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Maladaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Emotion Experience and Emotion Regulation

  • S.I. : Emotion Regulation and Psychiatric Comorbidity in ASD
  • Published:
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Abstract

Maladaptive behavior is common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, the factors that give rise to maladaptive behavior in this context are not well understood. The present study examined the role of emotion experience and emotion regulation in maladaptive behavior in individuals with ASD and typically developing (TD) participants. Thirty-one individuals with ASD and 28 TD participants and their parents completed questionnaires assessing emotion experience, regulation, and maladaptive behavior. Compared to TD participants, individuals with ASD used cognitive reappraisal less frequently, which was associated with increased negative emotion experience, which in turn was related to greater levels of maladaptive behavior. By decreasing negative emotions, treatments targeting adaptive emotion regulation may therefore reduce maladaptive behaviors in individuals with ASD.

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Notes

  1. Partial correlations controlling for group revealed less positive emotion with increasing age [r(56) = −.31, p < .05], but no significant association between age and negative emotions [r(56) = −.22, ns].

  2. Even after excluding the two participants that had lower FSIQ than 70, these findings remained consistent for positive emotions [F(3,53) = 2.16, ns] and for negative emotions [F(3,53) = .97, ns].

  3. Partial correlations controlling for group revealed increased use of cognitive reappraisal [r(48) = .35, p < .05] and suppression [r(48) = .37, p < .01], with increasing age.

  4. Even after excluding participants with FSIQ scores below 70, these findings remained consistent. ANCOVA results indicated that individuals with ASD used cognitive reappraisal [F(3,48) = 4.45, p < .01] and expressive suppression [F(3,48) = 2.73, p = .06, trending effect] less frequently. While the covariate FSIQ had no effect on cognitive reappraisal [F(1,48) = 1.05, ns] or expressive suppression (F(1,48) = .02, ns), age significantly affected the use of cognitive reappraisal [F(1,48) = 7.41, p < .01] and suppression [F(1,48) = 7.35, p < .01].

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation PA00P1_136380 (A.S.) and Mosbacher Family Fund for Autism Research. We thank Yael Enav, Amrita Sharma, Mirit Kopelman, and Robin Libove for their help with this study.

Conflict of interest

The work with human subjects complies with the guiding policies and principles for experimental procedures endorsed by the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 450 Serra Mall, Bldg 420, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Andrea C. Samson, Ihno A. Lee & James J. Gross

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Antonio Y. Hardan & Jennifer M. Phillips

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  1. Andrea C. Samson
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Correspondence to Andrea C. Samson.

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Samson, A.C., Hardan, A.Y., Lee, I.A. et al. Maladaptive Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Emotion Experience and Emotion Regulation. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 3424–3432 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2388-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2388-7

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