Sensory over-responsivity, repetitive behavior, and emotional functioning in boys with and without autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

BackgroundChildren with ASD may be more prone to sensory over-responsivity and RRB than their typically developing peers. However, few studies have examined potential links between internalizing and externalizing behavior patterns, RRB, and sensory over-responsivity in school-aged children with ASD when compared to typically developing peers. This study explored whether internalizing and/or externalizing behaviors are associated with RRB and sensory over-responsivity in older school-aged boys with and without ASD. MethodsSecondary data analyses were performed using age-matched groups of boys with IQ > 75 (n = 39 with ASD and n = 39 TD). Measures included the Sensory Over-Responsivity Scales, Child Behavior Checklist, and Social Responsiveness Scale. ResultsThe ASD group had significantly higher sensory over-responsivity, internalizing, externalizing and restricted and repetitive behavior than typically developing peers (ps < .001). In the ASD group, sensory over-responsivity and RRB were significantly associated with internalizing behavior (ps < .001). Restricted and repetitive behavior and sensory over-responsivity independently predicted internalizing symptoms within the ASD group (ps < .001). ConclusionsAmong older school-aged boys with ASD, high levels of sensory over-responsivity and RRB were significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. Furthermore, sensory over-responsivity and RRB contributed independently to internalizing symptom severity. We recommend that practitioners use an integrated treatment approach to acknowledge the contribution of sensory over-responsivity and RRB to internalizing behavior. Understanding their interconnectedness may help simplify the often complex intervention packages designed for children with ASD, which often treat individual symptoms separately.