The broader autism phenotype in parents of children with autism

Manuscript (ελληνικά)
Published: Dec 22, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.40443
Keywords:
broader autism phenotype, traits, endophenotype, parents, families
Panagiota Kazantzidou
Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2211-5987
Vasiliki Costarelli
Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3863-838X
George Papanikolaou
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University
Katerina Antonopoulou
Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4184-6830
Abstract

This review aims to provide a synopsis and analysis of the empirical evidence from research related to the study of the broader autism phenotype in parents of children with autism. This term refers to a condition that includes mild but qualitatively similar traits associated with autism spectrum disorder, involving deficits in communication, behavioural routines and resistance to change. In recent decades it has been suggested that these characteristics, which are quite often shared by parents and siblings of children with autism, may be useful in identifying environmental and genetic conditions associated with the disorder. A total of fourty-one studies published between 2012 and 2025 from the USA, Italy, China, Japan, Turkey, France, Iran, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and England that met the predefined inclusion criteria were included. The results showed that the most frequently reported characteristics referred to social, communication and cognitive deficits, as well as various mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders. These findings could be useful for child psychiatrists and practitioners to contribute to the understanding of certain symptoms and, most importantly, help in the design and effective implementation of the intervention to strengthen the family of children with autism and improve their quality of life.

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Author Biographies
Vasiliki Costarelli, Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University

Vassiliki Costarelli is an Associate Professor in Nutrition Behavior and Health and Head of the Department of Economics & Sustainable Development at Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Her research interests focus on factors that affect and form eating behavior in humans, sustainable diets, health and nutrition literacy, childhood obesity, emotional eating and nutrition and cancer. She has numerous publications, out of which, 70 articles published in peer review journals, more than 2944 citations and an h-index of 29 (google scholar).

Katerina Antonopoulou, Department of Economics and Sustainable Development, Harokopio University

 

 

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