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Risk Factors Associated with Self-Injurious Behaviors in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

While self-injurious behaviors (SIB) can cause significant morbidity for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little is known about its associated risk factors. We assessed 7 factors that may influence self-injury in a large cohort of children with ASD: (a) atypical sensory processing; (b) impaired cognitive ability; (c) abnormal functional communication; (d) abnormal social functioning; (e) age; (f) the need for sameness; (g) rituals and compulsions. Half (52.3%, n = 126) of the children (n = 241, aged 2–19 years) demonstrated SIB. Abnormal sensory processing was the strongest single predictor of self-injury followed by sameness, impaired cognitive ability and social functioning. Since atypical sensory processing and sameness have a greater relative impact on SIB, treatment approaches that focus on these factors may be beneficial in reducing self-harm in children with ASD.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ann Thompson (McMaster University) and Carolyn Noakes (Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children) for helping with data entry and management. This study was partially funding by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR MOP-81611), a Fellowship from the CIHR (EGD), a Research Training Competition Fellowship from the Hospital for Sick Children (EGD), and a Reva Gerstein Fellowship in Paediatric Psychology (EGD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Emma G. Duerden, Kathleen M. Mak-Fan & Margot J. Taylor

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Hannah K. Oatley, Kathleen M. Mak-Fan & Margot J. Taylor

  3. Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Patricia A. McGrath

  4. Holland Bloorview Children’s Rehabilitation Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    S. Wendy Roberts

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Peter Szatmari

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  1. Emma G. Duerden
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Correspondence to Emma G. Duerden.

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Duerden, E.G., Oatley, H.K., Mak-Fan, K.M. et al. Risk Factors Associated with Self-Injurious Behaviors in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 2460–2470 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1497-9

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