Social Skills, Aberrant Behavior, and Quality of Life Among Autistic Students: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study

Total views: 19 | Open access Open Access

Authors

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.5.1.208

Keywords:

autism spectrum disorder, social skills, behavior, quality of life, school

Abstract

Objective: To examine the average change over time in behavior, social skills, and quality of life for autistic individuals, and to investigate any potential associations between the outcomes. 

Methods: This six-year longitudinal cohort study included 50 participants (aged 7-19 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a specialized school. Evaluations for Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) 4.0 were completed by parents and teachers every 3 months. Mixed-effects models were used to detect significant changes in the mean ABC, SRS and PedsQL across timepoints, and to examine any longitudinal relationships between the outcomes.

Results: There were statistically significant improvements in the mean teacher-reported ABC (p=0.002), parent-reported SRS (p=0.006), teacher-reported SRS (p=0.003), and PedsQL (p<0.001) over time for all participants, but not for parent-reported ABC (p=0.5). There were significant longitudinal associations between PedsQL and parent-reported ABC (p=0.03), and between PedsQL and SRS (parent: p=0.03; teacher: p=0.001) within an individual.

Conclusions: The significant improvement in behavior, social responsiveness, and quality of life in these autistic children and young adults suggests that the specialized learning environment may have been beneficial. It also highlights the importance of providing collaborative and personalized therapeutic care and education programs for the ASD population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Aman, M. G., Singh, N. N., Stewart, A. W., & Field, C. J. (1985). The aberrant behaviour checklist: A behaviour rating scale for the assessment of treatment effects. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 89(5), 485–491. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/t10453-000

Bastiaansen, D., Koot, H. M., Bongers, I. L., Varni, J. W., & Verhulst, F. C. (2004). Measuring quality of life in children referred for psychiatric problems: Psychometric properties of the PedsQL 4.0 generic core scales. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation, 13(2), 489–495. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000018483.01526.ab DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000018483.01526.ab

Bent, S., McDonald, M. G., & Hendren, R. L. (2022). The Oak Hill Method: Connecting to Students with Autism. BookBaby.

Bent, S., Wahlberg, J., Chen, Y., Widjaja, F., McDonald, M. G., & Hendren, R. L. (2020). Quality of Life Among School-Age Children With Autism: The Oak Hill School Outcomes Study. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 34, 100808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2020.100808 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2020.100808

Carbone, P. S., Behl, D. D., Azor, V., & Murphy, N. A. (2010). The medical home for children with autism spectrum disorders: Parent and pediatrician perspectives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(3), 317–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0874-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0874-5

Channell, M. M. (2020). The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) in school-age children with Down syndrome at low risk for autism spectrum disorder. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 5, 2396941520962406. https://doi.org/10.1177/2396941520962406 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2396941520962406

Chun, J., Bong, G., Han, J. H., Oh, M., & Yoo, H. J. (2021). Validation of Social Responsiveness Scale for Korean Preschool Children With Autism. Psychiatry Investigation, 18(9), 831–840. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2021.0182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2021.0182

Constantino, J. N., Davis, S. A., Todd, R. D., Schindler, M. K., Gross, M. M., Brophy, S. L., Metzger, L. M., Shoushtari, C. S., Splinter, R., & Reich, W. (2003). Validation of a brief quantitative measure of autistic traits: Comparison of the social responsiveness scale with the autism diagnostic interview-revised. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33(4), 427–433. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1025014929212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025014929212

Cottenceau, H., Roux, S., Blanc, R., Lenoir, P., Bonnet-Brilhault, F., & Barthélémy, C. (2012). Quality of life of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: Comparison to adolescents with diabetes. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 21(5), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0263-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0263-z

Dang, K., Bent, S., Lawton, B., Warren, T., Widjaja, F., McDonald, M. G., Breard, M., O’Keefe, W., & Hendren, R. L. (2017). Integrating Autism Care through a School-Based Intervention Model: A Pilot Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6(10), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm6100097 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm6100097

De Los Reyes, A. (2019). Introduction to the special section: More than measurement error: Discovering meaning behind informant discrepancies in clinical assessments of children and adolescents. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 40(1),1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2011.533405

De Los Reyes, A., Cook, C. R., Gresham, F. M., Makol, B. A., & Wang, M. (2019). Informant discrepancies in ssessments of psychosocial functioning in school-based services and research: Review and directions for future research. J Sch Psychol,74, 74-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jsp.2019.05.005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2019.05.005

de Vries, M., & Geurts, H. (2015). Influence of Autism Traits and Executive Functioning on Quality of Life in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(9), 2734–2743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2438-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2438-1

Dijkhuis, R. R., Ziermans, T. B., Van Rijn, S., Staal, W. G., & Swaab, H. (2017). Self-regulation and quality of life in high-functioning young adults with autism. Autism, 21(7), 896–906. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316655525 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316655525

Georgiades, S., Tait, P. A., McNicholas, P. D., Duku, E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Smith, I. M., Bennett, T., Elsabbagh, M., Kerns, C. M., Mirenda, P., Ungar, W. J., Vaillancourt, T., Volden, J., Waddell, C., Zaidman-Zait, A., Gentles, S., & Szatmari, P. (2022). Trajectories of Symptom Severity in Children with Autism: Variability and Turning Points through the Transition to School. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(1), 392–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04949-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04949-2

Hirota, T., & King, B. H. (2023). Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. JAMA, 329(2), 157–168. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.23661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.23661

Ikeda, E., Hinckson, E., & Krägeloh, C. (2014). Assessment of quality of life in children and youth with autism spectrum disorder: A critical review. Quality of Life Research, 23(4), 1069–1085. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0591-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0591-6

Kaat, A. J., Lecavalier, L., & Aman, M. G. (2014). Validity of the aberrant behaviour checklist in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(5), 1103–1116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1970-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1970-0

Kat, S., Xu, L., Guo, Y., Ma, J., Ma, Z., Tang, X., Yang, Y., Wang, H., Li, X., & Liu, J. (2020). Reliability and Validity of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist in Chinese Autism Population. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 545445. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.545445 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.545445

Kuhlthau, K. A., McDonnell, E., Coury, D. L., Payakachat, N., & Macklin, E. (2018). Associations of quality of life with health-related characteristics among children with autism. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 22(7), 804–813. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317704420 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317704420

Kuhlthau, K., Orlich, F., Hall, T. A., Sikora, D., Kovacs, E. A., Delahaye, J., & Clemons, T. E. (2010). Health-Related Quality of Life in children with autism spectrum disorders: Results from the autism treatment network. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(6), 721–729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0921-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0921-2

Levy, S. E., Giarelli, E., Lee, L.-C., Schieve, L. A., Kirby, R. S., Cunniff, C., Nicholas, J., Reaven, J., & Rice, C. E. (2010). Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring developmental, psychiatric, and medical conditions among children in multiple populations of the United States. Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics: JDBP, 31(4), 267–275. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181d5d03b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181d5d03b

Lord, C., Elsabbagh, M., Baird, G., & Veenstra-Vanderweele, J. (2018). Autism spectrum disorder. Lancet (London, England), 392(10146), 508–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31129-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31129-2

Rosello, R., Berenguer, C., Martinez-Raga, J., Miranda, A., & Cortese, S. (2021). Subgroups of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder without Intellectual Disability: A Longitudinal Examination of Executive and Socio-Adaptive Behaviours in Adolescence. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(10), 2220. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10102220 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10102220

Schmidt, J. D., Huete, J. M., Fodstad, J. C., Chin, M. D., & Kurtz, P. F. (2013). An Evaluation of the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist for Children Under Age 5. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(4), 1190–1197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.01.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.01.002

Simonoff, E., Kent, R., Stringer, D., Lord, C., Briskman, J., Lukito, S., Pickles, A., Charman, T., & Baird, G. (2020). Trajectories in Symptoms of Autism and Cognitive Ability in Autism From Childhood to Adult Life: Findings From a Longitudinal Epidemiological Cohort. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(12), 1342–1352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.11.020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2019.11.020

Tschida, J. E., & Yerys, B. E. (2022). Real-world executive functioning for autistic children in school and home settings. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 26(5), 1095–1107. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211041189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211041189

Toomey, S. L., Chien, A. T., Elliott, M. N., Ratner, J., & Schuster, M. A. (2013). Disparities in unmet need for care coordination: The national survey of children’s health. Pediatrics, 131(2), 217–224. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-1535 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-1535

van Heijst, B. F. C., & Geurts, H. M. (2015). Quality of life in autism across the lifespan: A meta-analysis. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 19(2), 158–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361313517053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361313517053

Varni, J. W., Seid, M., & Kurtin, P. S. (2001). PedsQL 4.0: Reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 generic core scales in healthy and patient populations. Medical Care, 39(8), 800–812. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-200108000-00006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-200108000-00006

Wagner, R. E., Zhang, Y., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., Cormier, D., Todorov, A., & Constantino, J. N. (2019). Autism‐Related Variation in Reciprocal Social Behaviour: A Longitudinal Study. Child Development, 90(2), 441–451. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13170 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13170

Downloads

 

Published

07.04.2026

How to Cite

Hossain, B., Widjaja, F., Bent, S., Parenteau, C., McDonald, M. G., & Hendren, R. L. (2026). Social Skills, Aberrant Behavior, and Quality of Life Among Autistic Students: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort Study. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 5(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.5.1.208

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Autism Research

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Bushra Hossain, Felicia Widjaja, Stephen Bent, China Parenteau, Michael G. McDonald, Robert L. Hendren

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Articles published in the Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

This license permits use, distribution, reproduction, adaptation, and commercial use in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited, the authors are credited, and the source is acknowledged.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Metrics