Abstract
This study sought to characterize temperament traits in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ages 3–7 years
old, and to determine the potential association between temperament and sensory features in ASD. Individual differences in
sensory processing may form the basis for aspects of temperament and personality, and aberrations in sensory processing may
inform why some temperamental traits are characteristic of specific clinical populations. Nine dimensions of temperament from
the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (McDevitt and Carey in Manual for the behavioral style questionnaire, Behavioral-Developmental
Initiatives, Scottsdale, AZ, 1996) were compared among groups of children with ASD (n = 54), developmentally delayed (DD; n = 33), and the original normative sample of typically developing children (McDevitt and Carey in J Child Psychol Psychiatr
19(3):245–253, 1978; n = 350) using an ANOVA to determine the extent to which groups differed in their temperament profiles. The hypothesized overlap
between three sensory constructs (hyperresponsiveness, hyporesponsivness, and seeking) and the nine dimensions of temperament
was analyzed in children with ASD using regression analyses. The ASD group displayed temperament scores distinct from norms
for typically developing children on most dimensions of temperament (activity, rhythmicity, adaptability, approach, distractibility,
intensity, persistence, and threshold) but differed from the DD group on only two dimensions (approach and distractibility).
Analyses of associations between sensory constructs and temperament dimensions found that sensory hyporesponsiveness was associated
with slowness to adapt, low reactivity, and low distractibility; a combination of increased sensory features (across all three patterns) was associated
with increased withdrawal and more negative mood. Although most dimensions of temperament distinguished children with ASD
as a group, not all dimensions appear equally associated with sensory response patterns. Shared mechanisms underlying sensory
responsiveness, temperament, and social withdrawal may be fruitful to explore in future studies.
old, and to determine the potential association between temperament and sensory features in ASD. Individual differences in
sensory processing may form the basis for aspects of temperament and personality, and aberrations in sensory processing may
inform why some temperamental traits are characteristic of specific clinical populations. Nine dimensions of temperament from
the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (McDevitt and Carey in Manual for the behavioral style questionnaire, Behavioral-Developmental
Initiatives, Scottsdale, AZ, 1996) were compared among groups of children with ASD (n = 54), developmentally delayed (DD; n = 33), and the original normative sample of typically developing children (McDevitt and Carey in J Child Psychol Psychiatr
19(3):245–253, 1978; n = 350) using an ANOVA to determine the extent to which groups differed in their temperament profiles. The hypothesized overlap
between three sensory constructs (hyperresponsiveness, hyporesponsivness, and seeking) and the nine dimensions of temperament
was analyzed in children with ASD using regression analyses. The ASD group displayed temperament scores distinct from norms
for typically developing children on most dimensions of temperament (activity, rhythmicity, adaptability, approach, distractibility,
intensity, persistence, and threshold) but differed from the DD group on only two dimensions (approach and distractibility).
Analyses of associations between sensory constructs and temperament dimensions found that sensory hyporesponsiveness was associated
with slowness to adapt, low reactivity, and low distractibility; a combination of increased sensory features (across all three patterns) was associated
with increased withdrawal and more negative mood. Although most dimensions of temperament distinguished children with ASD
as a group, not all dimensions appear equally associated with sensory response patterns. Shared mechanisms underlying sensory
responsiveness, temperament, and social withdrawal may be fruitful to explore in future studies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1472-5
- Authors
- M. E. Brock, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 8040, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- A. Freuler, Division of Occupational Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040, USA
- G. T. Baranek, Division of Occupational Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040, USA
- L. R. Watson, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040, USA
- M. D. Poe, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 8040, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- A. Sabatino, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257