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Bullying-related behaviour in adolescents with autism: Links with autism severity and emotional and behavioural problems

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Olthof, T 
Goossens, F 
van der Meijden, S 
Begeer, S 

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2017. This study examined the association between peer-reported bullying-related behaviours (bully, victim, outsider and defender), age, gender, autism severity and teacher-rated emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, using a multi-informant approach. The sample comprised 120 adolescents (11% girls, Mage= 15.6 years, standard deviation = 1.89 years) attending a special school for children with autism. Results show that bullying decreased with age and was associated with behavioural problems, while victimisation was only associated with peer problems – a pattern of results comparable to studies exploring these associations in typically developing children. However, there were few associations among study variables for outsider or defender behaviours in this sample. Notably, children’s autism severity did not significantly predict bullying-related behaviours.

Description

Keywords

adolescents, autism spectrum disorders, behavioural problems, bullying, defending, emotional problems, victimisation, Adolescent, Age Factors, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autistic Disorder, Bullying, Child, Crime Victims, Education, Special, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Peer Group, Problem Behavior, Regression Analysis, Schools, Severity of Illness Index, Young Adult

Journal Title

Autism

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1362-3613
1461-7005

Volume Title

22

Publisher

SAGE Publications