Abstract
Various factors are assumed to affect selective mutism（SM）．This study aimed to examine how factors influence SM symptoms in two subgroups: one with relatively high communicative competence and another with relatively high autistic traits. The former group consisted of children with SM without comorbidities, and the latter consisted of children with SM with comorbid autism spectrum disorder（ASD）．Path analysis was conducted using SM symptoms as the objective variables measured by the Selective Mutism Questionnaire（SMQ-R），and autism traits, communication competence, and anxiety symptoms as explanatory variables measured by the Social Communication Questionnaire（SCQ），General Communication Composite（GCC）in the Children’s Communication Checklist（CCC-2），and Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale（SCAS），respectively. Results showed that the path from the SCQ was significant in the subgroup with relatively high communicative competence. In children with SM without comorbidities, it was suggested that the SCQ assesses nonverbal SM symptoms similar to autistic traits, which may be associated with verbal SM symptoms. In contrast, the path from the GCC was significant in the subgroup with relatively high autistic traits. In children with SM, comorbid ASD, and low GCC, it has been suggested that SM is affected by low communicative competence.
