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

G N Soke; S A Rosenberg; R F Hamman; T Fingerlin; C R Rosenberg; L Carpenter; L C Lee; E Giarelli; L D Wiggins; M S Durkin; A Reynolds; C DiGuiseppi

doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2951-x

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

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Feb;47(2):285-296. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2951-x.

Authors

G N Soke^{1

2}, S A Rosenberg³, R F Hamman⁴, T Fingerlin⁴, C R Rosenberg^{3

5}, L Carpenter⁶, L C Lee⁷, E Giarelli⁸, L D Wiggins⁹, M S Durkin¹⁰, A Reynolds¹¹, C DiGuiseppi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. Yxo2@cdc.gov.
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS E-86, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA. Yxo2@cdc.gov.
³ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
⁷ College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA.
⁸ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS E-86, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
¹⁰ University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.
¹¹ Child Development Unit, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Challenging behaviors; Children; Maladaptive behaviors; Self-injurious behaviors.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / epidemiology*
Child
Comorbidity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Databases, Factual
Female
Humans
Male
Protective Factors
Risk Factors
Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology*
United States / epidemiology

Grants and funding

CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States