Abstract
Aggressive behaviour is a significant issue for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet our understanding is limited compared to aggression in typically developing populations. This study examined behavioural, adaptive and cognitive data provided by the Simons Simplex Collection (N = 2184) to identify behavioural subgroups in children and adolescents with ASD using latent profile analysis. Results showed five subgroups that differed with regards to behavioural severity, IQ and adaptive behaviour. In two profiles with higher aggression, individuals had greater comorbid anxiety symptoms and attentional deficits and also differed in adaptive behaviour and IQ. These results identify potentially important avenues for research in aggressive behaviour in ASD.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by highly variable cognitive ability and adaptive function, as well as diverse comorbid behavioural symptoms that can be impairing
The aim of this study is to describe the heterogeneity of behavioural issues in the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) linked to aggression in ASD using Latent profile analysis (LPA)
The 5-profile solution identified an additional group with higher mean scores for the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) aggressive behaviour subscale
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by highly variable cognitive ability and adaptive function, as well as diverse comorbid behavioural symptoms that can be impairing. Self-injurious behaviour, sleep problems and sensory issues were strong predictors of parent-reported physical aggression towards others in an analysis of data from the Autism Treatment Network (ATN; N = 1584) (Mazurek et al 2013). While these studies offer some evidence for predictors of aggression, the role of IQ (Hill et al 2014) and autism severity (Dominick et al 2007) in mediating aggression remains unclear. Low and high levels of social anxiety predicted aggression in individuals with high-functioning ASD (Pugliese et al 2013). This may suggest that impaired behavioural inhibition mediates both low social anxiety and increases risk of aggression
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