title: Methodological considerations when assessing restricted and repetitive behaviors and aggression.
abstract: Methodological issues impacting the relationship between aggression and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors and interests (RRSBI) were examined in 2648 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using a multi-method, multi-informant analysis model to assess the effects of informant, assessment method, and aggression phenotype. Overall, a significant, but small relationship was found between RRSBI and aggression (p< .05). There was significant heterogeneity of estimates with large effect sizes observed when utilizing teacher report and a broad phenotype of aggression. Variance in estimates was attributed to differences in informant and assessment method with two times greater effect attributed to informant. Results suggest strategies to optimize future investigations of the relationship between RRSBI and aggression. Findings also provide the opportunity for the development of targeted interventions for aggression in youth with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Keefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 624 N. Broadway, 8th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalb
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Department of Health Psychology and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 205 Portland Street, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Mazurek
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Department of Health Psychology and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 205 Portland Street, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kanne
authors.affiliation: Center for Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware, 461 Wyoming Road, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.affiliation: Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 3901 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vasa
keywords: Aggression; Methodology; Repetitive behavior