Asperger's disorder (AD) is characterized by sustained and pervasive difficulties with imaginative, social, and communication skills and the presence of repetitive interests and behaviours. A number of models have been proposed to help explain the AD phenotype; however, these theories have not fully accounted for the social difficulties present in individuals with AD. The concept of emotional intelligence (EI) may offer insight into the social and emotional behaviours exhibited by young adults with AD. In addition, the concept of resilience, or the capacity for individuals to cope despite risk, may further explain why some individuals with AD experience more successful outcomes than others. This study explores EI and resilience in 20 males diagnosed with AD with average to above-average cognitive abilities. Various aspects of social functioning, EI, and resilience were assessed. Results indicate that males with AD displayed intact ability EI; however, they did not display typically developed trait EI. Furthermore, trait EI was associated with important resilient and adaptive outcomes, and these findings provide opportunities for intervention. It is important that through the identification of factors that compose resilient outcomes, this research represents the first step in identifying interventions designed to strengthen protective factors within young adults diagnosed with AD.
Le syndrome d'Asperger (SA) se caractérise par des difficultés durables et envahissantes dans le domaine des habiletés d'imagination et de communication, des aptitudes sociales, de même que par la présence d'intérêts et de comportements répétitifs. Divers modèles ont été proposés pour tenter de comprendre le phénotype du SA, mais ils n'expliquent toutefois pas entièrement les difficultés sociales que vivent les personnes qui en sont atteintes. Le concept d'intelligence émotionnelle (IE) pourrait permettre de mieux comprendre les comportements sociaux et émotifs présents chez les jeunes adultes atteints du SA. De plus, le concept de résilience, soit la capacité de composer malgré le risque, pourrait expliquer encore plus pourquoi certaines personnes aux prises avec le SA s'en tirent mieux que d'autres. Notre étude explore l'IE et la résilience chez 20 jeunes hommes qui ont reçu un diagnostic de SA et dont les habiletés cognitives se situent dans la moyenne ou plus. Nous avons évalué divers aspects du fonctionnement social, de l'IE et de la résilience. Selon les résultats, ces jeunes hommes démontrent une habileté d'IE intacte, sans toutefois démontrer le trait typique d'IE. En outre, le trait d'IE est associé à d'importants facteurs de résilience et d'adaptation importantes, et ces résultats fournissent des occasions d'intervention. À noter que cette recherche, par l'identification de facteurs qui nuisent à la résilience, constitue la première étape dans l'élaboration d'interventions qui renforceraient les facteurs protecteurs chez les jeunes adultes atteints du SA.
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