Effortful Control but Not Negative Affectivity Predicts Intensity of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors in Toddlers With Neurodevelopmental Conditions.
L’essentiel
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are prevalent across neurodevelopmental conditions. It has been hypothesized that greater severity of RRBs reflects elevated distress or diminished regulatory capacity. To test these hypotheses, prospective associations between early negative affectivity (NA) and effortful control (EC) and later RRB severity were examined in a transdiagnostic sample of toddlers with and without autism. Participants were 238 toddlers with neurodevelopmental conditions (autism: n = 165; non-autism: n = 73). NA and EC were assessed at time 1 (T1) (mean [SD] age =24.4 [5.2] months) using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire or Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire. At time 2 (T2) (mean [SD] age = 42.2 [7.3] months), severity of RRBs was assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Multivariate regression models tested whether T1 NA and EC predicted time 2 RRBs, controlling for age, sex, nonverbal developmental quotient, T1 RRBs, and visit year. Higher EC at T1 predicted lower ADI-R RRB scores at T2 (p < .001) but was not associated with ADOS RRB scores (p = .621). Higher EC was associated with ADI-R lower intensity of compulsive adherence to nonfunctional routines or rituals (p = .001), stereotyped repetitive motor mannerisms (p < .001), and preoccupation with parts of objects or their nonfunctional elements (p = .002), but not circumscribed interests (p = .266). T1 NA was not associated with T2 RRBs on either measure. Regulatory and affective traits show differential longitudinal associations with RRBs, highlighting a potential role for EC in their emergence or maintenance. Interpretation of null findings for NA is limited by unmeasured early environmental influences on the development of anxiety. We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group.
Synthèse détaillée
Résumé original
Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are prevalent across neurodevelopmental conditions. It has been hypothesized that greater severity of RRBs reflects elevated distress or diminished regulatory capacity. To test these hypotheses, prospective associations between early negative affectivity (NA) and effortful control (EC) and later RRB severity were examined in a transdiagnostic sample of toddlers with and without autism. Participants were 238 toddlers with neurodevelopmental conditions (autism: n = 165; non-autism: n = 73). NA and EC were assessed at time 1 (T1) (mean [SD] age =24.4 [5.2] months) using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire or Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire. At time 2 (T2) (mean [SD] age = 42.2 [7.3] months), severity of RRBs was assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Multivariate regression models tested whether T1 NA and EC predicted time 2 RRBs, controlling for age, sex, nonverbal developmental quotient, T1 RRBs, and visit year. Higher EC at T1 predicted lower ADI-R RRB scores at T2 (p < .001) but was not associated with ADOS RRB scores (p = .621). Higher EC was associated with ADI-R lower intensity of compulsive adherence to nonfunctional routines or rituals (p = .001), stereotyped repetitive motor mannerisms (p < .001), and preoccupation with parts of objects or their nonfunctional elements (p = .002), but not circumscribed interests (p = .266). T1 NA was not associated with T2 RRBs on either measure. Regulatory and affective traits show differential longitudinal associations with RRBs, highlighting a potential role for EC in their emergence or maintenance. Interpretation of null findings for NA is limited by unmeasured early environmental influences on the development of anxiety. We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group.