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School Discipline, Hospitalization, and Police Contact Overlap Among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

The objective was to examine the frequency, correlates, and overlap of school disciplinary actions, psychiatric hospitalizations, and police contact among children and adolescents with autism. Survey results from 2525 caregivers of individuals with autism in elementary through high school were examined. Logistic regression was used to examine predictors of each outcome. Youth with autism most frequently experienced school disciplinary action (15.0%), followed by police contact (7.9%) and hospitalization (7.8%). Experiencing any one of the three events increased risk of experiencing either of the other events. Strong associations between traumatic experiences such as police contact and hospitalizations (OR 9.2), need to be explored to determine risk factors for potential intervention. Further research is needed to determine the temporal ordering of these outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded through the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training (ASERT) Collaboration, under the Bureau of Autism Services, Office of Developmental Programs, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, ASERT Collaborative, 3020 Market St., Suite 560, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Paul Turcotte & Lindsay L. Shea

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    David Mandell

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  1. Paul Turcotte
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  2. Lindsay L. Shea
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  3. David Mandell
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LS and DM designed and performed the research, PT and LS analyzed the data, and PT, LS, and DM wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Paul Turcotte.

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Turcotte, P., Shea, L.L. & Mandell, D. School Discipline, Hospitalization, and Police Contact Overlap Among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 883–891 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3359-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3359-y

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