Factors Associated with Self-Injurious Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from Two Large National Samples

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2017-02, Vol.47 (2), p.285-296
• Main Authors: Soke, G. N., Rosenberg, S. A., Hamman, R. F., Fingerlin, T., Rosenberg, C. R., Carpenter, L., Lee, L. C., Giarelli, E., Wiggins, L. D., Durkin, M. S., Reynolds, A., DiGuiseppi, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Associations; At Risk Persons; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; Behavior; Behavior Problems; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child Development; Children; Children & youth; Clinical medicine; Comorbidity; Correlation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Databases, Factual; Departments; Developmental Disabilities; Environmental Influences; Etiology; Families & family life; Family Characteristics; Female; Human Body; Humans; Injuries; Intelligence Quotient; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Maternal & child health; Missing data; Multiple imputation; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Parent educational background; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Protective Factors; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Public Health; Questionnaires; Resilience (Psychology); Risk Factors; Self Destructive Behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-injury; Sleep; Social Class; Studies; Surveillance; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2951-x

In this study, we explored potential associations among self-injurious behaviors (SIB) and a diverse group of protective and risk factors in children with autism spectrum disorder from two databases: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network and the Autism Speaks-Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN). The presence of SIB was determined from children’s records in ADDM and a parent questionnaire in AS-ATN. We used multiple imputation to account for missing data and a non-linear mixed model with site as a random effect to test for associations. Despite differences between the two databases, similar associations were found; SIB were associated with developmental, behavioral, and somatic factors. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to possible etiology, future longitudinal studies, and clinical practice.