Relationship between PASS cognitive processes and future thinking in children with autism spectrum disorder

PASS cognitive processes dysfunction is considered as a common feature of autism spectrum disorders. It seems likely that any breakdown in this capacity might impact on the capacity for future thinking in this group. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between PASS cognitive processes and future thinking in children with autism spectrum disorder in the city of Isfahan.

The research design was descriptive and correlational. The study population included all children 6-8 years old with a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder in Isfahan. The sample included 15 students with high-functioning autism who were selected by convenience sampling method. The Cognitive Assessment System, Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, and Trip Task were used to collect data.

The statistical results showed that the correlation coefficients between future thinking and PASS cognitive processes (planning, attention, simultaneous and successive) were significant at the (P≤0.05).

These findings provided evidence regarding cognitive mechanisms that may be related to the defects of future thinking in autism spectrum disorder. Besides, obtained results could have crucial implications in the clinical and theoretical level.