Abstract
Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) are problematic for many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Existing models to explain factors contributing to SIB fail to account for a large proportion of variance in SIB. This study attempted to explain a greater proportion of variance in SIB by addressing methodological/theoretical limitations in previous research using a sample of 2341 youth with ASD. The model comprised of predictors identified by the prior study continued to explain only a small proportion of variance in the SIB score (R 2 = .13). Revisions to the model failed to substantially improve model fit. Results suggest that psychological, cognitive, and behavioral factors alone do not adequately explain common measures of SIB and highlight the need for further research.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this study was provided by the Simons Foundation (SSC-15 to R.G.K.). We are grateful to all of the families at the participating Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) sites, as well as the principal investigators (A. Beaudet, R. Bernier, J. Constantino, E. Cook, E. Fombonne, D. Geschwind, R. Goin-Kochel, E. Hanson, D. Grice, A. Klin, D. Ledbetter, C. Lord, C. Martin, D. Martin, R. Maxim, J. Miles, O. Ousley, K. Pelphrey, B. Peterson, J. Piggot, C. Saulnier, M. State, W. Stone, J. Sutcliffe, C. Walsh, Z. Warren, E. Wijsman). We appreciate obtaining access to phenotypic data on SFARI Base. Approved researchers can obtain the SSC population dataset described in this study by applying at https://base.sfari.org.
Author Contributions
JD conceived of the current study using existing SSC data, participated in its interpretation of data, coordination, and drafted the manuscript; AD participated in the conception of the current study, data collection in the SSC, interpretation of the data, and drafted the manuscript; DG and CM performed the statistical analysis and participated in interpretation and draft of the manuscript; RKG participated in the data collection in the SSC and assisted with drafting the manuscript.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Informed consent was obtained from parents/guardians of all individual participants included in the study.
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Dempsey, J., Dempsey, A.G., Guffey, D. et al. Brief Report: Further Examination of Self-Injurious Behaviors in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 1872–1879 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2704-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2704-x