Abstract
This study aimed to examine the prevalence, related factors, and emotional problems associated with teacher harassment victimization in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessed by self-reports and parent reports. A total of 219 adolescents with ASD participated in this study. The self-reported and parent-reported rates of teacher harassment victimization were calculated. Sociodemographic characteristics, parent-reported social communication deficits, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidality were surveyed. In total, 26 (11.9%) adolescents with ASD experienced teacher harassment based on self-reports or parent reports; the convergence between adolescent and parent reports on adolescent experiences of teacher harassment was low. Victims of teacher harassment exhibited more severe social communication deficits and ODD symptoms than nonvictims of teacher harassment. Victims of teacher harassment displayed more severe depression and anxiety and were more likely to have suicidality. Socio-communication deficits and ODD symptoms were related to teacher harassment victimization, which in turn was significantly associated with emotional problems among adolescents with ASD.
Highlights
The results indicated that victims of teacher harassment had more severe deficits in social communication and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms than nonvictims
Deficits in socio-communication and ODD symptoms were significantly associated with teacher harassment victimization
The risk of experiencing teacher harassment in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid high-level ODD symptoms should be lowered through early intervention
Summary
Teacher Harassment and Its Negative Influences on Victimized Students. School violence is a serious social problem affecting the health and well-being of students. School violence is defined as any behavior intended to harm students or their property in a school [1]. Peer bullying and teacher maltreatment are critical types of school violence. Research has revealed that students who experience teacher maltreatment are more likely to develop severe mental and physical health problems, such as depression, anxiety, feelings of frustration or anger, desire for revenge [2,3], aggressive behaviors, dependency and regression, reexperiencing the trauma inflicted by the educator [2,4], and poor quality of life [5]. Victimized students may fear teachers rather than respect them; the teachers become aversive individuals in the students’ life [6]
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