“…In the limited studies to date examining the relation between externalizing behaviors and the quality of peer relationships specifically among autistic students, the quality of autistic's students peer relationships was associated with externalizing problems. Specifically, among autistic 6-7 years olds, externalizing problems on the Teacher Report Form (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001)-which includes aggression, noncompliance, tantrums, destruction of property, and rule-breaking-are associated with greater rejection based on peer nominations (Sari et al, 2021). In one study of school-age autistic children, hyperactivity was linked to higher peer sociometric rejection (Jones & Frederickson, 2010), while another study of autistic children in general education settings had more mixed findings: inattention, but not hyperactivity/impulsivity and oppositional/defiant behavior, was negatively associated with rejection (Robertson et al, 2003).…”