Network Analysis of Autistic Traits in Children with Autism and Their Parents: Validation through Follow-up Data and Eye-Tracking Technology

Owing to the influence of genetic and environmental factors, complex associations exist between autistic traits in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents. However, little is known about the structure and temporal stability of these familial associations, particularly from a network perspective. This study applied network analysis to examine the interrelationships and longitudinal stability of autistic traits, as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), in 1,294 ASD family trios at baseline and 193 mother–child pairs at a follow-up. Objective eye-tracking technology was employed to support the findings. Network analysis revealed that social communication was the most central domain across all family members. Parents and children were primarily associated through the dimension of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs), a pattern that was also supported by eye-tracking data. Comparisons between the baseline and follow-up networks showed no significant changes in the global strength, structure, or centrality, suggesting overall network stability over time. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the familial transmission of autistic traits and may offer insights for future etiological and intervention research in ASD.