Effortful Control but Not Negative Affectivity Predicts Intensity of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors in Toddlers With
Suzanne L Macari1, Grace K Bell1, Catherine Bianco1
1Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Insights
Early effortful control (EC) in toddlers predicted fewer restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) later in childhood. Negative affectivity (NA) did not predict RRB severity, suggesting EC is key for managing RRBs in neurodevelopmental conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental conditions
- Child psychology
- Behavioral science
Background:
- Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are common in neurodevelopmental conditions.
- RRB severity may indicate distress or reduced self-regulation.
- Early childhood traits like negative affectivity (NA) and effortful control (EC) may influence RRB development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prospective associations between early NA and EC and later RRB severity.
- To examine these associations in a transdiagnostic sample of toddlers, including those with autism.
- To test hypotheses linking RRB severity to distress and regulatory capacity.
Main Methods:
- 238 toddlers (165 with autism, 73 without) were assessed.
- Early NA and EC were measured at mean age 24.4 months.
- RRB severity was assessed at mean age 42.2 months using ADOS and ADI-R.
Main Results:
- Higher early EC predicted lower RRB severity on the ADI-R, but not the ADOS.
- EC was associated with reduced compulsive routines, stereotyped motor mannerisms, and object preoccupation.
- Early NA was not significantly associated with later RRB severity.
Conclusions:
- Early regulatory traits, specifically EC, show differential longitudinal links to RRBs.
- EC may play a role in the emergence or persistence of RRBs.
- Further research is needed to understand the null findings for NA, considering potential environmental influences.
Objective:
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are prevalent across neurodevelopmental conditions. It has been hypothesized that greater severity of RRBs reflects elevated distress or diminished regulatory capacity. To test these hypotheses, prospective associations between early negative affectivity (NA) and effortful control (EC) and later RRB severity were examined in a transdiagnostic sample of toddlers with and without autism.
Method:
Participants were 238 toddlers with neurodevelopmental conditions (autism: n = 165; non-autism: n = 73). NA and EC were assessed at time 1 (T1) (mean [SD] age =24.4 [5.2] months) using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire or Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire. At time 2 (T2) (mean [SD] age = 42.2 [7.3] months), severity of RRBs was assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Multivariate regression models tested whether T1 NA and EC predicted time 2 RRBs, controlling for age, sex, nonverbal developmental quotient, T1 RRBs, and visit year.
Results:
Higher EC at T1 predicted lower ADI-R RRB scores at T2 (p < .001) but was not associated with ADOS RRB scores (p = .621). Higher EC was associated with ADI-R lower intensity of compulsive adherence to nonfunctional routines or rituals (p = .001), stereotyped repetitive motor mannerisms (p < .001), and preoccupation with parts of objects or their nonfunctional elements (p = .002), but not circumscribed interests (p = .266). T1 NA was not associated with T2 RRBs on either measure.
Conclusion:
Regulatory and affective traits show differential longitudinal associations with RRBs, highlighting a potential role for EC in their emergence or maintenance. Interpretation of null findings for NA is limited by unmeasured early environmental influences on the development of anxiety.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement:
We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group.
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