Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using Self- and Parent-Reports to Test the Association Between Peer Victimization and Internalizing Symptoms in Verbally Fluent Adolescents with ASD

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study tested the associations between peer victimization and internalizing symptoms in 54 verbally fluent adolescent males with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Adolescent- and parent-reports of multiple types of peer victimization and internalizing symptoms were used. First, the validity and reliability of the adolescent-report measure of peer victimization were successfully tested, with some exceptions. Then, structural equation models showed that adolescent-reports of peer victimization were associated with a latent construct of internalizing symptoms even after controlling for parent-reports of peer victimization. Discussion focuses on the importance of considering adolescent-reports of negative peer experience, such as peer victimization, rather than relying exclusively on parent reports.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. (2001a). Youth self report (YSR). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M. (2001b). The child behavior checklist (CBCL). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., & Howell, C. T. (1987). Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: Implications of cross-informant correlations for situational specificity. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 213–232. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.101.2.213.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, R. E., & Bukowski, W. M. (2008). Peer victimization as a predictor of depression and body mass index in obese and non-obese adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 858–866. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01886.x.

  • Adams, R. E., & Cantin, S. (2013). Self-disclosure in friendships as the moderator of the association between peer victimization and depressive symptoms in overweight adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 33, 341–362. doi:10.1177/0272431612441068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, R. E., Santo, J. B., & Bukowski, W. M. (2011). The presence of a best friend buffers the effects of negative experiences. Developmental Psychology, 47, 1786–1791. doi:10.1037/a0025401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodfish, J. W., Symons, F. J., Parker, D. E., & Lewis, M. H. (2000). Varieties of repetitive behavior in autism: Comparisons to mental retardation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 237–243. doi:10.1023/A:1005596502855.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boivin, M., Petitclerc, A., Feng, B., & Barker, E. D. (2010). The developmental trajectories of peer victimization in middle to late childhood and the changing nature of their behavioral correlates. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 56, 231–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappadocia, M. C., Weiss, J. A., & Pepler, D. (2012). Bullying experiences among children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 266–277. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1241-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2005). Social responsiveness scale (SRS). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Egger, H., & Angold, A. (2005). 10-year research update review: The epidemiology of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders: I. Methods and Public Health Burden. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44, 972–986. doi:10.1097/01.chi.0000172552.415969.6f.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crick, N. R., Wellman, N. E., Casas, J. F., O’Brien, K. M., Nelson, D. A., Grotpeter, J. K., et al. (1999). Childhood aggression and gender: A new look at an old problem. In D. Bernstein (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation (pp. 75–141). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghandour, R. M., Kogan, M. D., Blumberg, S. J., & Perry, D. G. (2010). Prevalence and correlates of internalizing mental health symptoms among CSHCN. Pediatrics, 125, e269–e277. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaziuddin, M., Ghaziuddin, N., & Greden, J. (2002). Depression in persons with autism: Implications for research and clinical care. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32(4), 299–306. doi:10.1023/a:1016330802348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaziuddin, M., Weidmer-Mikhail, E., & Ghaziuddin, N. (1998). Comorbidity of Asperger syndrome: A preliminary report. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 42(4), 279–283. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.1998.00065.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawker, D. S. J., & Boulton, M. J. (2000). Twenty years’ research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: A meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 441–455. doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00629.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howlin, P., Goode, S., Hutton, J., & Rutter, M. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(2), 212–229. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00215.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hurtig, T., Kuusikko, S., Mattila, M., Haapsamo, H., Ebeling, H., Jussila, K., et al. (2009). Multi-informant reports of psychiatric symptoms among high-functioning adolescents with Asperger syndrome or autism. Autism, 13(6), 583–598. doi:10.1177/1362361309335719.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1992). Children’s depression inventory manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leyfer, O. T., Folstein, S. E., Bacalman, S., Davis, N. O., Dinh, E., Morgan, J., et al. (2006). Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with Autism: Interview development and rates of disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(7), 849–861. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0123-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Little, L. (2002). Middle-class mothers’ perceptions of peer and sibling victimization among children with Asperger’s syndrome and nonverbal learning disorders. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 25, 43–57. doi:10.1080/014608602753504847.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., & Bishop, S. L. (2010). Autism spectrum disorders: Diagnosis, prevalence, and services for children and families. Society for Research in Child Development Social Policy Report, 24(2), 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nansel, T. R., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R. S., Ruan, J., Simons-Morton, B., & Scheidt, P. (2001). Bullying behaviors among US youth: Prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. Journal of American Medical Association, 285, 2094–2100. doi:10.1001/jama.285.16.2094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raja, M., Azzoni, A., & Frustaci, A. (2011). Autism spectrum disorders and suicidality. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 7. doi:10.2174/1745017901107010097.

  • Reijntjes, A., Kamphuis, J. H., Prinzie, P., & Telch, M. J. (2010). Peer victimization and internalizing problems in children: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34, 244–252. doi:10.1019/j.chiabu.2009.07.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosbrook, A., & Whittingham, K. (2010). Autistic traits in the general population: What mediates the link with depressive and anxious symptomatology? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(3), 415–424. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2009.10.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, K. H., Bukowski, W. M., & Parker, J. G. (2006). Peer interactions, relationships, and groups. In W. Damon, R. M., Lerner, & N. Eisenberg (Eds.,) Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 3. Social, emotional, and personality development, 6th ed (pp. 571–645). New York: Wiley.

  • Rutter, M., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The social communication questionnaire: Manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, D., Farver, J. M., Chang, L., & Lee-Shin, Y. (2002). Victimization in South Korean children’s peer groups. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 30, 113–125. doi:10.1023/A:1014749131245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, M. M., Krauss, M. W., Shattuck, P. T., Orsmond, G., Swe, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33(6), 565–581.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, R. S., La Greca, A. M., & Harrison, H. M. (2009). Peer victimization and social anxiety in adolescents: Prospective and reciprocal relationships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 1096–1109. doi:10.1007/s10964-009-9392-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sterzing, P. R., Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Wagner, M., & Cooper, B. P. (2012). Bullying involvement and autism spectrum disorders. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 166, 1058–1064. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2012.790.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storch, E. A., Larson, M. J., Ehrenreich-May, J., Arnold, E. B., Jones, A. M., Renno, P., et al. (2012). Peer victimization in youth with autism spectrum disorders and co-occurring anxiety: Relations with psychopathology and loneliness. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 24, 575–590. doi:10.1007/s10882-012-9290-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeting, H., Young, R., West, P., & Der, G. (2006). Peer victimization and depression in early-mid adolescence: A longitudinal study. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 577–594. doi:10.1348/000709905X49890.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van der Wal, M. F., deWit, C. A. M., & Hirasing, R. A. (2003). Psychosocial health among young victims and offenders of direct and indirect bullying. Pediatrics, 111, 1312–1317.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Roekel, E., Scholte, R. H., & Didden, R. (2010). Bullying among adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence and perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 63–73. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0832-2.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Steensel, F. J. A., Bogels, S. M., & Perrin, S. (2011). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14, 302–317. doi:10.1007/s10567-011-0097-0.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • You, J., & Bellmore, A. (2012). Relational peer victimization and psychosocial adjustment: The mediating role of best friendship qualities. Personal Relationships, 19, 340–353. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2011.01365.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, E. L., Boye, A. E., & Nelson, D. A. (2006). Relational aggression: Understanding, identifying, and responding in schools. Psychology in the Schools, 43, 297–312. doi:10.1002/pits.20148.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Carrie Thomas and Alyssa Wendling for their assistance in recruitment and data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 4002, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Ryan E. Adams, Bridget K. Fredstrom, Amie W. Duncan & Lauren J. Holleb

  2. Weill Cornell Medical College, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA

    Somer L. Bishop

Authors
  1. Ryan E. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bridget K. Fredstrom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amie W. Duncan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lauren J. Holleb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Somer L. Bishop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryan E. Adams.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adams, R.E., Fredstrom, B.K., Duncan, A.W. et al. Using Self- and Parent-Reports to Test the Association Between Peer Victimization and Internalizing Symptoms in Verbally Fluent Adolescents with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 861–872 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1938-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1938-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation