Lauren Quetsch, University of Arkansas. CREDIT University of Arkansas

“At least half of all children with autism experience some form of aggression, like hitting, kicking, or name-calling, while their parents are responsible for helping them manage and integrate into social settings. However, the frequency and nature of aggressive behaviors throughout the development of autism are not well understood.”

In order to fill this gap in knowledge, the Family and Community Intervention Lab at the University of Arkansas conducted a study comparing the levels of aggressive behaviors in autistic children versus non-autistic children across three crucial developmental periods. The study found that parents of autistic children reported more frequent and intense levels of aggression compared to parents of non-autistic children. to parents of non-autistic children.

“Aggression poses a widespread and serious challenge for autistic youths and their families,” said Lauren Quetsch, assistant professor of psychology and lead author of “Understanding aggression in autism across childhood: Comparisons with a non-autistic sample.”

“While our knowledge about the unique needs of autistic children has expanded significantly over the last few decades, we still have a long way to go,” she said. “Understanding the role aggression plays in the lives of autistic youths can help us better address our gaps in care.”

In the period from December 2020 to March 2021, Quetsch and her colleagues collected both quantitative and qualitative data on 450 autistic and 432 non-autistic children. The data was categorized into three age-matched groups: younger than six, six to 12, and 13 to 17. The children were assessed using various caregiver-reported measures to compare aggressive and disruptive behavior during these important developmental stages.

The researchers analyzed the data and found that autistic children displayed higher levels of verbal aggression and disruptive behavioral intensity compared to non-autistic children across all three stages of development. Children with autism who were younger than six exhibited more physical aggression than their non-autistic peers, but as they grew older, these levels became equal to those of non-autistic children.

In the qualitative study, non-autistic children more frequently expressed anger in a controlled manner, according to parents, whereas autistic children were more apt to quickly lose their temper.

“We surmise that this can be attributed to several factors,” Quetsch said. “Frustration from regularly being misunderstood, challenges with recognizing emotions in others or expressing their own emotions to others, sensory overstimulation, and even co-occurring health challenges, such as physical discomfort from gastrointestinal issues and exhaustion due to irregular sleeping patterns, all likely contribute to aggression.”