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Potential Risk Factors for the Development of Self-Injurious Behavior among Infants at Risk for Autism Spectrum

Adele F Dimian1, Kelly N Botteron2, Stephen R Dager3

  • 1Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, 56 East River Rd., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|February 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Early identification of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial. Lower developmental functioning and early SIB at 12 months predicted later SIB at 24 months in high-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Self-injurious behavior (SIB) affects up to 50% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Identifying early risk factors for SIB is vital for timely intervention and prevention strategies.
  • Prospective research on early SIB predictors in high-risk populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate behavioral predictors of SIB at 2 years of age.
  • To examine infants at high familial risk for ASD.
  • To evaluate early developmental functioning and SIB patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study design.
  • Involved 235 infants with high familial risk for ASD.
  • Logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of SIB at 24 months.

Main Results:

  • Lower developmental functioning at 12 months predicted SIB at 24 months.
  • Presence of SIB or proto-SIB at 12 months predicted SIB at 24 months.
  • Persistent SIB from 12 to 24 months correlated with autism diagnosis and poorer cognitive/adaptive outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Early behavioral characteristics, including developmental functioning and SIB, can predict later SIB in high-risk infants.
  • Persistent SIB is linked to a formal autism diagnosis and long-term developmental challenges.
  • Findings underscore the importance of early screening and intervention for SIB in infants at risk for ASD.

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderInfantsRepetitive behaviorRisk factorsSelf-injurious behavior

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