Consensus on Problem Behaviors in Autistic Children Lacks Clarity

Strategic Insights -

Researchers conducting a systematic review of non-pharmacological intervention studies for autistic children up to age eight found that there is little consensus on the types of behaviors that should be reduced via intervention. The review, which analyzed 102 studies, revealed that many of these studies lacked clear definitions and rationales for targeting specific behaviors for reduction. Additionally, the measurement tools used to assess these behaviors were often not validated, particularly for inherently harmful behaviors.

Key Takeaways:

  • 47% of the studies reviewed described reducing behavior as a primary or secondary purpose of the study and/or intervention.
  • 33% of the studies provided a rationale for targeting behaviors for reduction, while 28% offered a conceptualization of the behavior(s) they targeted.
  • Only 8% of the studies provided a clear conceptual definition of the behavior(s) being targeted.
  • The most common assessment measures used were off-the-shelf measures that had undergone some level of validation, but often only in relation to inter-rater reliability.
  • The ten most commonly used assessment measures were validated along six different dimensions in autistic populations, but only two measures were specifically validated for autistic populations.
  • All but one of the full scales or subscales measured were for non-normative but not inherently harmful behaviors or a mix of behaviors that were inherently harmful and non-normative but not inherently harmful.
  • Researchers and practitioners should work together to develop clear definitions, rationales, and measurement tools for assessing problem behaviors in autistic children.

Statistics:

  • 102 studies were included in the secondary systematic review.
  • 47% of the studies (47/102) described reducing behavior as a primary or secondary purpose of the study and/or intervention.
  • 33% of the studies (33/102) provided a rationale for targeting behaviors for reduction.
  • 28% of the studies (28/102) offered a conceptualization of the behavior(s) being targeted.
  • Only 8% of the studies (8/102) provided a clear conceptual definition of the behavior(s) being targeted.
  • 10 of the most commonly used assessment measures were validated along six different dimensions in autistic populations.

Sources:

  • https://osf.io/7zbp2/