Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems
Abstract Background Although repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) may interfere with well-being and functioning in autistic individuals, research on their relation to sex, age, cognitive level, and mental health problems remains unclear. Much of the research to date has used bro...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04766-0 |
| _version_ | 1797817870260895744 |
|---|---|
| author | Sara Jasim Adrienne Perry |
| author_facet | Sara Jasim Adrienne Perry |
| author_sort | Sara Jasim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) may interfere with well-being and functioning in autistic individuals, research on their relation to sex, age, cognitive level, and mental health problems remains unclear. Much of the research to date has used broad categorizations rather than specific categorizations of RRBIs to examine the difference in RRBIs between individuals. The purpose of this study was to explore, in different groups of individuals, the presence of specific RRBI subtypes, and to examine the association of specific RRBI subtypes with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Methods Secondary data analyses were conducted using the Simons Simplex Collection dataset, which included 2,758 participants (aged 4 to 18). Families of autistic children completed the Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised (RBS-R) and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Across all RBS-R subtypes, results revealed no sex differences. Older children showed higher rates of Ritualistic/Sameness behaviors than younger children and adolescents, whereas younger and older children showed more Stereotypy than adolescents. Additionally, lower cognitive level groups showed higher rates of RBS-R subtypes except for Ritualistic/Sameness. After controlling for age and cognitive level, RBS-R subtypes accounted for a substantial amount of variance in internalizing and externalizing behaviors (23% and 25%, respectively). Specifically, Ritualistic/Sameness and Self-Injurious Behavior both predicted internalizing and externalizing behaviors, whereas Stereotypy only predicted internalizing behavior. Conclusions These findings have key clinical implications that emphasize not only the consideration of sex, age, and cognitive level, but also specific RRBIs and co-occurring mental health problems, when assessing for ASD and designing individualized interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:59:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7e784581d8a46f1ad54e3aaa3a76377 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:59:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7e784581d8a46f1ad54e3aaa3a763772023-05-28T11:24:25ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-05-0123111410.1186/s12888-023-04766-0Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problemsSara Jasim0Adrienne Perry1Department of Psychology, York UniversityDepartment of Psychology, York UniversityAbstract Background Although repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) may interfere with well-being and functioning in autistic individuals, research on their relation to sex, age, cognitive level, and mental health problems remains unclear. Much of the research to date has used broad categorizations rather than specific categorizations of RRBIs to examine the difference in RRBIs between individuals. The purpose of this study was to explore, in different groups of individuals, the presence of specific RRBI subtypes, and to examine the association of specific RRBI subtypes with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Methods Secondary data analyses were conducted using the Simons Simplex Collection dataset, which included 2,758 participants (aged 4 to 18). Families of autistic children completed the Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised (RBS-R) and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Across all RBS-R subtypes, results revealed no sex differences. Older children showed higher rates of Ritualistic/Sameness behaviors than younger children and adolescents, whereas younger and older children showed more Stereotypy than adolescents. Additionally, lower cognitive level groups showed higher rates of RBS-R subtypes except for Ritualistic/Sameness. After controlling for age and cognitive level, RBS-R subtypes accounted for a substantial amount of variance in internalizing and externalizing behaviors (23% and 25%, respectively). Specifically, Ritualistic/Sameness and Self-Injurious Behavior both predicted internalizing and externalizing behaviors, whereas Stereotypy only predicted internalizing behavior. Conclusions These findings have key clinical implications that emphasize not only the consideration of sex, age, and cognitive level, but also specific RRBIs and co-occurring mental health problems, when assessing for ASD and designing individualized interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04766-0Autism spectrum disorderRepetitive behaviorsPsychopathologyCo-occurring mental health problems |
| spellingShingle | Sara Jasim Adrienne Perry Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems BMC Psychiatry Autism spectrum disorder Repetitive behaviors Psychopathology Co-occurring mental health problems |
| title | Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| title_full | Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| title_fullStr | Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| title_short | Repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder: relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| title_sort | repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests in autism spectrum disorder relation to individual characteristics and mental health problems |
| topic | Autism spectrum disorder Repetitive behaviors Psychopathology Co-occurring mental health problems |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04766-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarajasim repetitiveandrestrictedbehaviorsandinterestsinautismspectrumdisorderrelationtoindividualcharacteristicsandmentalhealthproblems AT adrienneperry repetitiveandrestrictedbehaviorsandinterestsinautismspectrumdisorderrelationtoindividualcharacteristicsandmentalhealthproblems |