Abstract
Background
Multiple risk behaviours (MRBs), typically beginning in adolescence, are associated with increased risk of adverse health and social outcomes. The association between autism and MRBs is little understood.
Methods
Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, an UK-based longitudinal, birth cohort study. Exposures were diagnosed autism and four autistic traits: social communication difficulties, pragmatic language, repetitive behaviours and reduced sociability. Outcomes were participation in up to 14 risk behaviours, including alcohol consumption, smoking, risky sexual behaviours and physical inactivity. Outcome data were collected at ages approximately 12, 14, 16 and 18.
Results
Up to 4300 participants were included in latent basis growth curve analyses with adjustment for confounders. Social communication difficulties were associated with an above average level of MRBs engagement at ~12 years (mean difference β 0.26; 95% CI 0.13–0.40), and above average rate of engagement from ages ~12–18 (β 0.08; 95% CI 0.02–0.13). Repetitive behaviours were associated with above average levels of engagement in MRBs at ~12 years (β 0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.38). Contrastingly, reduced sociability was associated with a reduced rate of engagement in MRBs from ages ~12–18 (β −0.06; 95% CI −0.11 to −0.02). In sex-specific analyses, persisting differences in MRB engagement patterns from ages ~12–18 were observed in males with social communication difficulties and females with reduced sociability temperament.
Conclusions
Having elevated levels of some autistic traits appear to have differentiated effects on MRB engagement patterns. These findings could reflect difficulties fitting in and/or coping mechanisms relating to difficulties with fitting in.
Multiple risk behaviours (MRBs), typically beginning in adolescence, are associated with increased risk of adverse health and social outcomes. The association between autism and MRBs is little understood.
Methods
Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, an UK-based longitudinal, birth cohort study. Exposures were diagnosed autism and four autistic traits: social communication difficulties, pragmatic language, repetitive behaviours and reduced sociability. Outcomes were participation in up to 14 risk behaviours, including alcohol consumption, smoking, risky sexual behaviours and physical inactivity. Outcome data were collected at ages approximately 12, 14, 16 and 18.
Results
Up to 4300 participants were included in latent basis growth curve analyses with adjustment for confounders. Social communication difficulties were associated with an above average level of MRBs engagement at ~12 years (mean difference β 0.26; 95% CI 0.13–0.40), and above average rate of engagement from ages ~12–18 (β 0.08; 95% CI 0.02–0.13). Repetitive behaviours were associated with above average levels of engagement in MRBs at ~12 years (β 0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.38). Contrastingly, reduced sociability was associated with a reduced rate of engagement in MRBs from ages ~12–18 (β −0.06; 95% CI −0.11 to −0.02). In sex-specific analyses, persisting differences in MRB engagement patterns from ages ~12–18 were observed in males with social communication difficulties and females with reduced sociability temperament.
Conclusions
Having elevated levels of some autistic traits appear to have differentiated effects on MRB engagement patterns. These findings could reflect difficulties fitting in and/or coping mechanisms relating to difficulties with fitting in.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Psychological Medicine |
| Early online date | 28 Apr 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 28 Apr 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website ( http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf ). This publication is the work of the authors and A. L. will serve as guarantor for the contents of this paper. A. L. is funded by a 4-year Wellcome Trust studentship grant, Grant number (220059/Z/19/Z). C. W. is funded by a Cancer Research UK Population Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (C60153/A23895). This study was also supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (BRC-1215-2011). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press.
Keywords
- Autism
- autistic traits
- multiple risk behaviour
- ALSPAC
- epidemiology
- longitudinal studies