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Are Sensory Processing Features Associated with Depressive Symptoms in Boys with an ASD?

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Abstract

The association between Sensory Processing Features (SPF) and depressive symptoms was investigated at two levels in 150 young males (6–18 years) with an ASD. First, a significant correlation was found between SPF and total depressive symptom scores. Second, different aspects of SPF significantly predicted different depressive symptom factors, with Low Registration (or sensory hyposensitivity) being the most powerful predictor of depressive symptoms. There were also differences in these associations according to whether parents’ ratings or the boys’ self-reports were used to assess SPF and depressive symptoms. Implications for assessment and treatment of SPF-related depressive symptoms are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the valued time and efforts by the participants in this study.

Author Contributions

VB, CFS and RM designed the study; VB supervised the data collection; CFS did the data analysis; all authors wrote the ms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia

    Vicki Bitsika, Christopher F. Sharpley & Richard Mills

  2. Brain-Behaviour Research Group, School of Science & Technology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Christopher F. Sharpley

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    Richard Mills

Authors
  1. Vicki Bitsika
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  2. Christopher F. Sharpley
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  3. Richard Mills
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher F. Sharpley.

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VB and CFS share senior authorship.

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Bitsika, V., Sharpley, C.F. & Mills, R. Are Sensory Processing Features Associated with Depressive Symptoms in Boys with an ASD?. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 242–252 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2569-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2569-4

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