Theory of mind predicts social interaction in children with autism spectrum disorder: a two-year follow-up study

This two-year follow-up study examined the predictive relationships of theory of mind (ToM) to social interaction by reciprocal social behaviors (RSBs) and social functioning (SF) in 106 children with ASD. The results of the path analysis showed that the earlier ToM predicted children’s current component RSBs (B = 3.53, SE = 1.86, p = 0.039) and the current SF (B = 1.79–1.87, SE = 0.03–0.34, p < 0.001). The aloof and passive social interaction styles predicted fewer turn-taking of RSBs (B = − 48.77 to − 111.17, p < 0.001) and fewer components of RSBs (B = − 36.30 to − 81.41, p < 0.001). This finding provides empirical evidence that ToM predicts social interaction in children with ASD.