Aggressive behavior in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Little is known about the manifestation of aggressive behavior in children with autism, although it is commonly cited as a significant problem. Existing reports in autism do not emphasize subtypes of aggression, whereas distinguishing forms of aggression is commonplace in the typically developing literature. This study compared a sample of 121 children aged 3–20 years with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to 244 children with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD; age 4–21 years). Item- and subscale-level data from the Children's Scale for Hostility and Aggression: Reactive/Proactive (C-SHARP) were reported. Children with ASDs received higher ratings than those with IDD on several subscales tapping physical and reactive aggression. Within the ASD group, children with Asperger's disorder were rated significantly higher than children with autism on subscales tapping covert and verbal behaviors. Results indicate that at least some types of aggression were more common in children with ASDs than those with IDDs.