Sruthi Sridharan and T. Santhanam
Shri Jagdhishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University
Pages: 406-424
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition influenced
by an interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. This study
examines the role of medical, psychological, and social determinants in shaping
behavioural problems in children with ASD. Data were collected from children diagnosed
with ASD, using standardized diagnostic tools including the Modified Checklist for Autism
in Toddlers (M-CHAT-R), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), and
structured caregiver questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA,
correlation analyses, and Tukey’s HSD post-hoc tests were employed to assess the
relationships between demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables and behavioural
outcomes. Findings indicated significant associations between prenatal medical
complications (gestational age, pregnancy-related conditions, and maternal illness)
and the severity of behavioural problems. Psychological factors, particularly parental
mental health, stress, and trauma histories, strongly correlated with repetitive behaviours,
emotional dysregulation, and social withdrawal. Social determinants, including family
type, number of siblings, income level, and parental education, moderated the impact
of ASD on behavioural challenges, with children from nuclear families and lower-income
groups showing heightened vulnerability. Gender and caretaker variations also played a
role, as female caregivers with higher education demonstrated protective effects on
behavioural outcomes. The study underscores the necessity of adopting a
biopsychosocial model in both research and intervention, emphasizing integrated medical,
psychological, and social support systems. These findings have critical implications
for the design of early screening protocols, family-centered interventions, and policy
frameworks that address the multifactorial nature of ASD