Cross-Cultural Comparison of Adaptive Behaviour Between British and Brazilian Clinical Samples With Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Researchers compared daily living skills in children with autism from Brazil and the UK. They found that children from both countries had very similar patterns of strengths and challenges, except that older Brazilian children scored higher on independence and self-control skills compared to British children of the same age. This suggests autism affects daily living skills similarly across different cultures.

This cross-cultural study compared adaptive behaviour profiles between 48 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder from Brazil and the United Kingdom, divided equally by country and age groups (5-10 and 11-17 years). Using the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-3rd Edition (ABAS-3), researchers found largely similar adaptive functioning patterns across cultures, with one notable exception: older Brazilian participants scored significantly higher than their British peers on the self-direction scale, which measures skills related to independence, responsibility, and self-control. The findings suggest that cultural context may influence specific aspects of adaptive behaviour development while overall profiles remain consistent across countries.

Findings support universal approaches to adaptive behaviour interventions while recognizing potential cultural influences on independence skills. Clinicians should consider cultural context when assessing self-direction abilities and setting intervention goals for children with autism.

Small sample size of 48 participants limits generalizability. Study design unclear from abstract. Limited to two countries and may not represent broader cultural differences. Potential confounding factors not addressed.

Adaptive behaviour deficits are limitations in executing daily activities and difficulties in responding to environmental changes, which impact social participation and independence across contexts. Adaptive behaviour measures can be used to guide interventions for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Cross-cultural studies can contribute to the understanding of adaptive functioning of neurodivergence across countries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the adaptive behaviour profiles of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental condition from different countries.

Forty-eight children with an autism spectrum diagnosis were equally separated into country groups (Brazil and the United Kingdom) and ages (5-10 and 11-17 years old) and were evaluated with the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, 3rd Edition (ABAS-3), the Parent Form (Ages 5-21), using the raw scores of the questionnaire. The only scale in which a difference between nationality groups was identified was the self-direction scale, which evaluates skills needed for independence, responsibility and self-control, with older Brazilians scoring higher than their British peers in the same age group. Similar profiles of adaptive functioning in individuals with ASD were found across cultures, with a singular difference in the self-direction scale. The study's findings shed light on the need for interventions to increase adaptive functioning skills acquisition, regardless of the culture or country in which the individual is.