The effect of family capital on psychological adjustment of Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder in the transition from kindergarten to primary school

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate how different forms of family capital might affect psychological adjustment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the transition from kindergarten to primary school. Methods: Participants (n = 221) were recruited using convenience sampling from Beijing, Xiamen, Chongqing, and Lanzhou in China. With the Chinese version of different measurements such as Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Family Economic Capital Scale, Family Cultural Capital Scale, Social Capital Scale, and the Questionnaire of Parental Involvement in Transition from Kindergarten to Primary School, the hierarchical linear regression was performed to examine the effect of family capital on psychological adjustment of Chinese children with ASD. Results: The results indicated that monthly household income (B = −0.04, SE = 0.03, p < 0.05), parental educational expectations (B= − 0.07, SE = 0.02, p < 0.01), and parental involvement (B= −0.11, SE = −0.04, p < 0.05) have significantly negative effect on emotional symptoms of children with ASD; monthly household income (B= −0.05, SE = 0.01, p < 0.05) and the strength of social ties (B=−0.09, SE =0.03, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with conduct problems; monthly household income negatively predicted hyperactivity/inattention (B=−0.05, SE = 0.02, p < 0.05); social network ties were negatively correlated with peer problems (B=-0.10, SE = 0.03, p < 0.01); the monthly household income (B = 0.04, SE = 0.02, p < 0.05), parental educational expectations (B = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p < 0.05), parental involvement (B = 0.27, SE = 0.04, p < 0.01), and strength of social ties (B = 0.10, SE = 0.05, p < 0.05) positively affected the prosocial behavior. Conclusion: The present study, from a cross-cultural perspective, revealed the negative associations between family capital variables, including family economic, cultural, and social capital, and the difficult domains of psychological adjustment, as well as the positive associations with prosocial behavior. These contribute to the applicability of the family capital theory to explain psychological adjustment of children with ASD.