Child maltreatment in autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: results from a population‐based sample

Abstract

Background Children with developmental disabilities are at heightened risk for maltreatment. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of maltreatment among specific groups, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disability (ID). Information about maltreatment in these groups can aid in the development of supports and prevention strategies for vulnerable children and their families. Methods Using record linkage between the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network, this study compares the prevalence and characteristics of maltreatment among children with ASD‐only (n = 316), ASD and comorbid ID (ASD+ID; n = 291), ID‐only (n = 1,280), and controls (n = 3,101). Behavioral correlates of maltreatment are examined. Results Controlling for demographic factors, this study found significantly higher odds of reported and substantiated maltreatment among children with ASD‐only (odds ratio = 1.86 for reported, 1.51 for substantiated), ASD+ID (odds ratio = 2.35 for reported, 1.97 for substantiated), and ID‐only (odds ratio = 2.45 for reported, 2.49 for substantiated) relative to a population control group, with large effects. In particular, children with ASD+ID and ID‐only were between two and three times more likely to experience maltreatment. All groups were more likely to experience physical neglect, and children in the ASD+ID and ID‐only groups were more likely to experience all forms of abuse. Children in the ASD‐only group were more likely to experience physical abuse. Maltreated children in the ASD‐only and ID‐only groups experienced more cases of physical abuse and neglect, and were victimized by more perpetrators compared to other maltreated youth. Maltreatment was associated with higher likelihood of aggression, hyperactivity, and tantrums for children with ASD. Conclusions Children with ASD and/or ID are at heightened risk for maltreatment. Empirically‐supported assessment and intervention approaches for identifying and addressing traumatic stress related to maltreatment in ASD are urgently needed.

The Devastating Clinical Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect: Increased Disease Vulnerability and Poor Treatment Response in Mood Disorders

“…Additionally, more research is needed on disparities that contribute to, and minority communities that show, elevated rates of early life adversity. As discussed above, rates of early life adversity are higher in individuals with developmental disabilities [138][139][140]. Rates of trauma are also higher in youth in the LGBTQ community [233,234].…”

“…These offspring also reported having higher levels of emotional abuse and neglect, which correlated with severity of PTSD in the parent [136,137], implicating early life stress in transmission of psychopathology. While there is evidence that children with developmental disabilities are at a higher risk for neglect [138][139][140], there is a paucity of study investigating if offspring of individuals with mental illness are more liable to abuse. However, as discussed above, higher rates of maltreatment are reported in individuals with mood disorders, but if and what familial factors may drive these elevated rates are not known-or if these interactions contribute to the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology.…”

Annual Research Review: Umbrella synthesis of meta‐analyses on child maltreatment antecedents and interventions: differential susceptibility perspective on risk and resilience

“…Regarding child characteristics, early studies (e.g., Belsky, 1993) tended to report associations between child factors and maltreatment although evidence remained equivocal. More recently, however, there is an emerging body of evidence that seems to indicate that children with certain neurodevelopmental features such as the presence of an autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulty may be at an increased risk of maltreatment (e.g., Dion, Paquette, Tremblay, Collin-V ezina, & Chabot, 2018;McDonnell et al, 2019).…”

Few Differences in the Externalizing and Criminal History of Young Violent Offenders With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…It is noteworthy that many of the ASD offenders had previously been recognized for their abnormal developmental, and, in most cases, received an ADHD diagnosis, but in only 19% of the cases an ASD diagnosis. A late diagnosis of ASD have been linked to several contextual factors, including adversity (61) and low socio-economic status (62). We also know that an early identification of ASD is critically important to improve health, level of functioning and wellbeing but we need more studies to find out if it affects the risk of criminality as well.…”