Background: The aim of the research was to identify possible predisposing and maintaining risk markers for presence, severity and stability of challenging behaviour. Method: Three studies were conducted: 1) a meta-analysis of epidemiological research, 2) a study of the characteristics of children with challenging behaviour and a comparison group, and 3) an observational study of functional communication Results: Results of the meta-analysis suggest that degree of intellectual disability, autism and communication impairments are associated with challenging behaviour. Results of the second study suggest that a) compulsive behaviour and autism spectrurr behaviour are associated with presence but neither severity nor stability of challenging behaviour, and b) greater degree of intellectual disability, stereotyped behaviour, and poor communication and socialisation skills were not associated with presence, severity or stability. Results of the third study suggest that children with frequent challenging behaviour display functionally communicative behaviour. Discussion: Compulsive behaviour and autism spectrum behaviour are possible predisposing risk markers that within an early intervention strategy could be used to identify children at high-risk for challenging behaviour. Communication impairment was not a central risk marker. Further research is needed to examine how risk markers interact with operant processes to increase risk for maintenance of challenging behaviour
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:408354 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | McClintock, Karen J. |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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