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Specific Aspects of Repetitive and Restricted Behaviours are of Greater Significance than Sensory Processing Difficulties in Eating Disturbances in High-Functioning Young Girls with ASD

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Abstract

Eating Disturbances (ED) are widely prevalent in young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To investigate the possible role of child-based contributors to that ED in young females, 14 variables were investigated in 37 girls aged 6 yr. to 11 yr. (M age = 8.5 yr) with ASD. Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours (RRBs) were the only significant predictor of ED, particularly those behaviours related to rigidity in routines, and restricted range of interests. Sensory Processing and Social Communication and Interactions were not significant predictors of ED in this sample. These findings extend previous studies of the role of RRBs (as a general construct) in ED by identifying specific aspects of RRBs that may elevate the likelihood of ED occurrence in girls with high-functioning ASD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bond University, Qld, Gold Coast, Australia

    Vicki Bitsika

  2. Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Christopher F. Sharpley

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  1. Vicki Bitsika
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  2. Christopher F. Sharpley
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Correspondence to Christopher F. Sharpley.

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Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all mothers included in the study and the girls gave their assent to the study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Bitsika, V., Sharpley, C.F. Specific Aspects of Repetitive and Restricted Behaviours are of Greater Significance than Sensory Processing Difficulties in Eating Disturbances in High-Functioning Young Girls with ASD. J Dev Phys Disabil 30, 259–267 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-017-9583-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-017-9583-8

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