Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
08:42

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

8.0K

Aggressive Behavior Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence and Correlates in a Large

Alison Presmanes Hill1, Katharine E Zuckerman2, Arlene D Hagen3

  • 1Center for Spoken Language Understanding, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, 840 SW Gaines Street, Portland, OR 97239 ; Institute on Development and Disability, Oregon Health & Science University, 707 SW Gaines Street, Portland, OR 97239.

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
|September 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Aggressive behavior problems (ABP) affect one in four children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Comorbid sleep, internalizing, and attention issues are strongly linked to ABP, suggesting potential treatment targets.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Aggressive behavior problems (ABP) are common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) but poorly understood.
  • ABP in ASD often co-occurs with other significant problems, influencing medical interventions and functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and correlates of ABP in a clinical sample of children with ASD.
  • To investigate associations between ABP and medical interventions, behavioral functioning, and comorbid conditions in ASD.

Main Methods:

  • Examined a clinical sample of 400 children with ASD aged 2-16.9 years.
  • Assessed ABP using Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Aggressive Behavior scale scores (T-scores ≥ 70).
  • Analyzed sociodemographic factors, medical interventions, cognitive functioning, ASD severity, and comorbid problems.

Main Results:

  • One in four children with ASD exhibited clinically significant ABP.
  • ABP was not associated with sociodemographic factors.
  • ABP correlated with increased psychotropic drug and melatonin use, lower cognitive function, lower ASD severity, and higher rates of sleep, internalizing, and attention problems.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep, internalizing, and attention problems are significantly associated with ABP in children with ASD.
  • These comorbid conditions may serve as therapeutic targets for reducing aggressive behavior.
  • Identifying high-risk profiles can aid in the proactive prevention of ABP in ASD.

Keywords:
aggressionattention problemsautism spectrum disordersinternalizing problemspsychotropic drugssleep

More Related Videos

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism06:15

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism

Published on: October 3, 2018

7.0K
Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos05:32

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos

Published on: December 7, 2018

8.5K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
1.9K
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
1.0K
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
1.5K
Antisocial Personality Disorder01:24

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for the rights and well-being of others. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder exhibit behaviors that include deceitfulness, impulsivity, irresponsibility, aggression, and a profound lack of empathy. These traits often manifest early in life and persist into adulthood, leading to significant personal, social, and legal consequences.
Behavioral Characteristics and...
1.3K
Bullying02:04

Bullying

A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
7.9K
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
796