Citation

Fink E, Olthof T, Goossens F, van der Meijden S, Begeer S. Autism 2018; 22(6): 684-692.

Affiliation

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, National Autistic Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1362361316686760

PMID

28514869

Abstract

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.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; autism spectrum disorders; behavioural problems; bullying; defending; emotional problems; victimisation