Development of restricted and repetitive behaviors from 15 to 77 months: stability of two distinct subtypes?

Mirko Uljarević, Bronia Arnott, Sarah Carrington, Elizabeth Meins, Charles Fernyhough, Helen McConachie, Ann Le-Couteur, Susan R. Leekam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A community sample of 192 parents reported on their children’s restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) at mean ages 15 months (N=138), 26 months (N=191), and 77 months (N=125) using the Repetitive Behavior Questionnaire-2 (RBQ-2). Consistent with previous factor analytic research, two factors were found at each age: one comprising repetitive sensory and motor behaviors (RSM), and the other comprising insistence on sameness behaviors including rigidity, routines, and restricted interests (IS). Regression analyses indicated that RSM and IS subtypes develop independently. RSM at 77 months was predicted only by RSM behaviors at 26 months and not by IS behaviors at either 15 or 26 months nor by RSM behaviors at 15 months. IS at 77 months was predicted by IS behaviors at both 15 and 26 months, but not by RSM behaviors at either 15 or 26 months. Our findings provide evidence that there is stability of two independent subtypes of RRBs, RSM and IS, across early childhood and that these subtypes develop independently of each other.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1859-1868
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopmental Psychology
Volume53
Issue number10
Early online date31 Jul 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

Bibliographical note

© American Psychological Association, 2017. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000324

Keywords

  • restricted and repetitive behaviors
  • longitudinal
  • repetitive sensory and motor behaviors
  • insistance on sameness behaviors
  • typical development

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development of restricted and repetitive behaviors from 15 to 77 months: stability of two distinct subtypes?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this