Investigating the Predictive Value of Infant Attention Behaviors and Profiles for Detecting Differences in Self-Regulation and Social and Sensory Responsiveness in the Toddler and Early Preschool Years

Research shows that individual differences in early attentional skills supported by the orienting and executive attention networks of the brain are predictive of later self-regulation and social competence in the toddler and preschool years. Furthermore, early deficits in attentional orienting and disengagement are predictive of a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The First Year Inventory (FYI) is a parent-report measure of social-communication and sensory-regulatory behaviors of 12-month-olds designed to assess risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Three new constructs measuring features of social and sensory attention linked to the orienting and executive attention networks were developed from the items on the FYI, and validated on a measure of social responsiveness and impairment at 36 months (Stephens, Sabatos-DeVito, & Reznick, in prep). The first goal of the current research was to further validate these attention constructs by assessing their predictive value for sensory, temperament, and attentional regulation outcomes in a high-FYI risk sample at 13-16 months, and a broader ranging FYI risk sample at 30 months. A second goal of the current research was to develop attention profiles and assess differences in social, sensory, temperament, and attentional outcomes between the attention profiles. Regression analyses revealed that, together, the three attention constructs were predictive of individual differences in: 1) sensory and temperament outcomes at 13-16 months and 30 months, and 2) social and attentional regulation outcomes at 30 months. Individual constructs demonstrated unique associations with the outcomes, such that responsiveness to social attention at 12 months was most related to differences in social and attentional outcomes, and attentional engagement with the sensory environment was most related to sensory response patterns and temperament reactivity patterns. Differences in these outcomes were also noted between attention profiles, with the Uniform Risk profile demonstrating the poorest outcomes. Together, these findings support the use of these parent-reported, FYI-derived attention constructs and profiles for detecting differences in social, sensory, temperament and attentional patterns in toddlers and preschoolers.Doctor of Philosoph