Nature, Prevalence, and Characteristics of Challenging Behavior

Abstract

Challenging behaviors are among the most serious and studied problems in the field of developmental disabilities (Matson et al. 2011). An increasing number of studies are being published that have provided more insight into the nature, prevalence, and characteristics of challenging behaviors in this target group. Results of these studies have shown that challenging behaviors are common in children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or intellectual disabilities (ID). Population studies have shown that between 5 and 15% of individuals with ID show some type of challenging behavior, like self-injury, aggression, stereotypic behavior, and other problem behaviors. Studies also show that rates of challenging behaviors are increased if individuals also have ASD. For example, Holden and Gitlesen (2006) found that among over 900 individuals with ID, 11% showed one or more types of challenging behavior. Of the study sample, 6% had been diagnosed with autism, and 36% of this subgroup showed challenging behavior. Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, and Smalls (2011) employed the Behavior Problem Inventory-01 (BPI-01) in a sample of individuals with ID (n = 432) who lived in a residential facility and who were between 14 and 19 years old. Results showed that individuals with ASD had higher rates of aggression, self-injury and stereotypy than those with ID without ASD. These findings were corroborated by results from a meta-analysis by McClintock, Hall, and Oliver (2003) who have explored risk factors for challenging behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities. They have published a meta-analysis of 22 studies conducted over 30 years, and the results showed that children and adults with ASD were more likely than other individuals with ID to exhibit challenging behaviors such as self-injury and aggression. These results indicate that ASD itself may be a risk factor for challenging behavior in individuals with ID. However, other researchers failed to find an association between challenging behavior and ASD. For example, Tyrer et al. (2006) investigated prevalence rate of physical aggression in over 3,000 adults with profound to mild ID, and they failed to find a relationship between challenging behavior and the presence of autism.