Predisposing Factors for Elevated Restricted and Repetitive Behavior in Typically Developing Toddlers

Abstract

Little is known about the relation between levels of restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) in infants and parent factors. The present study investigated maternal and psychosocial factors (depressive symptoms, socio‐economic status, social support) and mother–infant engagement factors (mind‐mindedness, sensitivity, and infant–mother attachment security) as predictors of children's RRB at age 26 months in a sample of 206 mothers and children. Maternal depressive symptoms predicted levels of sensory and motor repetitive behavior and rigid, routinized, and ritualistic repetitive behavior. Lower socioeconomic status also predicted independent variance in children's sensory and motor repetitive behavior. The relations between maternal depressive symptoms and both types of RRB were not mediated through observational measures of maternal sensitivity or mind‐mindedness at 8 months, or attachment security at 15 months. The results are discussed in terms of whether stress regulation, self‐stimulation, and genetic susceptibility can help explain the observed link between maternal depressive symptoms and RRB in the child.

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and their developmental and demographic correlates in 4–8-year-old children: A transdiagnostic approach

“…The contribution of SES to the anxiety-IS relation might be complex and include other variables beyond those included in the current study. For example, Larkin et al 's (2019) Note: Population data is based on a large representative sample of British children between the ages of 5 and 10 (see Meltzer et al, 2003). No norms were calculated for internalizing and externalizing scores.…”

Understanding sensory regulation in typical and atypical development: the case of sensory seeking

“…Often, the behavioural response manifested differs from that observed in typically developing children. For example, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and infants at elevated likelihood of ASD frequently manifest reduced seeking of novel sensory input, coupled with engagement in restricted and repetitive behaviours (Garon et al, 2009;Harrop et al, 2014;Larkin et al, 2019). Conversely, elevated seeking of novel sensory input and enhanced distractibility are reported in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Donfrancesco et al, 2015;Melegari et al, 2015).…”