孤独症谱系障碍儿童隐喻理解能力与心理推测能力的联系

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.04.014

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the relationship between metaphor comprehension and theory of mind in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods A total of 50 children with ASD (ASD group) and 50 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children (TD group) were recruited from special education institutions in Hangzhou between August, 2023 and November, 2024. Metaphor comprehension was assessed using a visual picture paradigm, covering conceptual, shape, appearance and mixed metaphors. The theory of mind was assessed using unexpected content/place tasks.
Results The total score of metaphor comprehension was lower in ASD group than in TD group (Z = -5.625, P < 0.001), particularly for shape, appearance and mixed metaphors (|Z| > 5.625, P < 0.01); as well as the scores of theory of mind (|Z| > 5.255, P < 0.001). There was positive correlation between the total score of theory of mind and total score (r = 0.352, P < 0.05), shape score (r = 0.299, P < 0.05) and mixed score (r = 0.330, P < 0.05) of metaphor comprehension. Regression analyses showed that the total score of theory of mind positively predicted total score (β = 0.310, P < 0.05), shape score (β = 0.103, P < 0.05) and mixed score (β = 0.330, P < 0.05) of metaphor comprehension.
Conclusion Children with ASD delayed in metaphor comprehension, which associates with deficits in theory of mind.

Key words: autism spectrum disorder, metaphor comprehension, theory of mind, language rehabilitation

CLC Number:

R749.94

LI Fan, LIN Keyu, XIAO Yongtao. Relationship between metaphor comprehension and theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder[J]. Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice, 2025, 31(4): 484-489.

Figures/Tables 5

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References 40

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组别	n	性别(男/女)/n	年龄/岁	Peabody图片词汇测验分	Raven标准推理测验等级
TD组	50	34/16	7.34±1.11
ASD组	50	41/9	7.56±1.37	73.7±18.85	3 (0.00)
χ²/t值		2.641	0.868
P值		0.104	0.387

组别	n	总分	概念隐喻	外形隐喻	外貌隐喻	混合隐喻
TD组	50	23.50 (6.00)	5.00 (2.00)	8.00 (0.00)	4.50 (2.00)	6.00 (2.00)
ASD组	50	15.00 (13.00)	4.00 (3.25)	6.00 (3.00)	4.00 (2.00)	4.00 (2.00)
Z值		-5.625	-1.398	-6.748	-2.945	-4.608
P值		< 0.001	0.162	< 0.001	0.003	< 0.001

组别	n	总分	意外地点任务	意外内容任务
TD组	50	8.00 (2.00)	4.00 (0.00)	4.00 (0.25)
ASD组	50	2.00 (4.25)	0.00 (2.00)	2.00 (4.00)
Z值		-7.048	-7.147	-5.255
P值		< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001

隐喻测试	r值	P值
总分	0.352	0.013
概念隐喻	0.125	0.391
外形隐喻	0.299	0.037
外貌隐喻	0.125	0.391
混合隐喻	0.330	0.021

因变量	B值	β值	t值	P值	F值	R值	R²值
隐喻总分	0.588	0.310	2.439	0.019	7.819	0.500	0.250
外形隐喻分	0.212	0.103	2.068	0.044	4.508	0.401	0.161
混合隐喻分	0.282	0.330	2.419	0.019	5.854	0.330	0.109

Relationship between metaphor comprehension and theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder

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