Aggressive Behavior by Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Is Influenced by the Environment

To what extent is the aggressive behavior of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) moderated (or aggravated) by attributes of their environment? Brown and colleagues tried to answer this question based on caregiver reports for 511 ASD youth. Overall, their data indicated that demographic and environmental factors accounted for up to 40% of the variance in children’s aggressive behavior. The main factors influencing reported aggressive behavior were:

• Family income
• The child’s age and social communication skills
• Parental distress arising from having to deal with a difficult child

Besides these factors, the researchers also found a slight effect of family warmth as measured by the Family Environment Scale and Caregiver-Child Dyad Satisfaction, but this factor barely accounted for an additional one percent of the observed total variance.

Abstract

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience difficulties related to aggression, disruptive behavior, and regulation of emotions that precipitate these behaviors (i.e., anger). The extent to which aggression, disruptive behaviors, and anger dysregulation are correlated with distinct or overlapping factors has not yet been explored. The present study examined whether aspects of participant demographics, individual youth functioning, caregiver stress, and family warmth contributed to youth aggression, disruptive behavior, and anger dysregulation. Participants were caregivers of 511 youths with ASD. Analyses revealed that significant proportions of variance in aggression, disruptive behaviors, and anger dysregulation were accounted for by shared variables pertaining to demographics, the individual youth, and caregiver stress. Implications of treatment and future research are discussed.

Citation

Brown, C. E., Quetsch, L. B., Aloia, L. S., & Kanne, S. M. (2023). Predictors of aggression, disruptive behavior, and anger dysregulation in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication.

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