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Repetitive Behavior Scale for Early Childhood (RBS-EC): Psychometrics and Developmental Effects with a Community Sample

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Abstract

Restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) occur commonly in young children in the course of typical development, but too frequent or persistent RRBIs have been linked to a variety of psychosocial and neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, a lack of psychometrically sound, feasible instruments stymies RRBI study and intervention in early childhood. Therefore, this study validated an extant RRBI measure (i.e., Repetitive Behavior Scale for Early Childhood; RBS-EC) for predominately neurotypical community children ages 2–7 years via an MTurk survey of 300 caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses best supported a 4-factor model for the RBS-EC (i.e., repetitive motor, rituals and routines, restricted interests, self-directed behaviors). RBS-EC scores varied significantly with age and gender; namely, RRBIs were typically (1) less frequent but more problematic with older versus younger children and (2) more frequent and problematic with boys versus girls. Findings extend the RBS-EC’s utility in RRBI assessment and treatment during early childhood.

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Funding

Funding for this project provided by Idaho State University Office of Research and Department of Psychology.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Ave STOP 8201, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA

    Kathryn Lachance, Karolina Štětinová, Robert Rieske & Samuel Peer

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  1. Kathryn Lachance
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  3. Robert Rieske
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Correspondence to Robert Rieske.

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Research Involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (Idaho State University Human Subjects Committee: IRB-FY2018-268) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Lachance, K., Štětinová, K., Rieske, R. et al. Repetitive Behavior Scale for Early Childhood (RBS-EC): Psychometrics and Developmental Effects with a Community Sample. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 53, 863–875 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01166-x

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