Predicting emotional consequences of disorganization among adults with neurodevelopmental disorders: a structural equation model

Figures & data

Figure 1. Theoretical model for the relationships between sensory processing, motor coordination, executive functions, sleep quality, and organization-in-time abilities and emotional responses.

Visual representation of a theoretical model depicting the intricate relationship between various health condition characteristics and their impact on functional behaviour.

Figure 2. Theoretical model representing latent and observed variable.

An illustration of a SEM showing latent variables (circles) and observed variables (squares).

Table 1. Descriptive statistics by group.

Demographic	Group with NDD (n = 149)	Control group (n = 141)	t/ꭕ^2	p
Age in years; M (SD) Range	29.36 (5.90) 21–46	31.74 (6.80) 21–47	3.170	n.s.
Sex (% female)	65.80	69.50	0.461	n.s.
Family status (% stable relationship with a spouse)	38.90	48.20	4.828	0.034
Education (% university student)	52.00	63.80	4.124	0.043
Currently working (%)	83.20	86.50	0.614	n.s.
Currently student (%)	55.70	57.40	0.089	n.s.

Note. NDD = neurodevelopmental disorders.

Table 2. MANOVA for questionnaire domains.

Questionnaire/variable	Group with NDD	Control group	F	ηp²
	M (SD)
TOPS, F(3,285) = 54.90, p <.001, ηp² = 0.366
	n = 149	n = 139	F(1,287)
TOPS-A	3.51 (0.79)	4.28 (0.57)	89.400***	0.24
TOPS-B	2.89 (0.83)	3.88 (0.66)	125.400***	0.30
TOPS-C	3.14 (0.58)	3.89 (0.65)	109.210***	0.28
AASP, F (4,285) = 42.05, p <.001, ηp² = 0.37
	n = 149	n = 141	F(1,288)
Low registration	37.31 (7.43)	27.63 (5.88)	149.92***	0.34
Sensitivity	44.64 (9.06)	34.62 (7.55)	103.97***	0.26
Seeking	46.56 (6.79)	46.60 (6.79)	.002	.001
Avoidance	40.57 (8.60)	33.86 (7.45)	50.06***	0.48
ADC, F(3,281) = 21.95, p <.001, ηp² = 0.190
	n = 144	n = 141	F(1,283)
ADC-A	18.70 (7.39)	14.05 (3.88)	43.980***	0.13
ADC-B	18.55 (6.89)	13.47 (3.21)	63.230***	0.18
ADC-C	38.90 (11.67)	31.62 (6.14)	43.120***	0.13
BRIEF-MI, F(5,284) = 67.58, p<.001, ηp² = 0.543
	n = 149	n = 141	F(1,288)
Initiation	63.79 (11.68)	48.88 (9.86)	137.230***	0.32
Working memory	72.72 (12.08)	49.24 (9.74)	329.450***	0.53
Task monitor	65.99 (13.05)	49.01 (8.95)	165.030***	0.36
Environment organization	68.66 (12.63)	50.74 (8.84)	193.890***	0.40
Plan	60.69 (13.60)	47.33 (9.18)	95.050***	0.25
MSQ, F(2,288) = 50.37, p <.001, ηp² = 0.245
	n = 149	n = 141	F(1,288)/t
Wake	13.37 (4.16)	9. 49 (3.59)	71.65***	0.20
Sleep Sleep–wake sum	16.23 (5.01) 32.56 (8.30)	11.88 (3.79) 23.66 (6.32)	68.72*** t(288)=−10.22	0.19 .001

Note. ADC = Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist: -A = difficulty relating to others, -B = current function, -C = childhood function; AASP = Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile; BRIEF = Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function: MI = metacognitive index; MSQ = Mini Sleep Questionnaire; NDD = neurodevelopmental disorders; TOPS = Time Organization and Participation Scale: -A = way of performing, -B = rhythm of performance, -C = emotional reactions.

***p < 0.001.

Table 3. Frequencies of deficient function in organization-in-time domains, sensory processing, motor coordination, Executive functions, and sleep quality per cutoff points, norms, or mean final scores by group.

	Normal range/Cutoff score	Group with NDD (%)	Control group (%)
Time organization (TOPS)
A. Performing in appropriate pace	Mean score ≥ 3 (good)	81.2	97.9
	Mean score < 3 (deficient)	18.8	2.1
B. Daily organization	Good	48.3	92.2
	Deficient	51.7	7.8
C. Emotional responses due to lack of success	Good	60.4	91.4
	Deficient	39.6	8.6
Sensory processing (AASP)
Low registration
Under norm	15–23	2.7	2.7
Norm	24–35	36.2	66.7
Above norm	36–75	61.1	6.4
Seeking
Under norm	15–42	28.2	25.5
Norm	43–56	63.8	68.1
Above norm	57–75	8.1	6.4
Sensitivity
Under norm	26–41	0.7	14.9
Norm	42–75	40.3	68.8
Above norm	42–75	59.1	16.3
Avoiding
Under norm	15–26	4.0	16.3
Norm	27–41	53.7	70.2
Above norm	42–75	42.3	13.5
Motor coordination (ADC)	>80 neurotypical	54.4	93.6
	≥80 probable DCD	15.4	4.3
	≥90 DCD	30.2	2.1
Executive functions (BRIEF-A)
Behavioural Regulation Index	>65 = EF deficiency	45.0	5.0
Metacognition Index		61.7	4.3
Global executive composite		63.8	4.3
Sleep (MSQ) Sleep–wake quality	10–24 good sleep	18.0	57.4
	25–27 mild sleep	10.1	17.0
	28–30 moderate sleep	8.0	10.6
	>30 severe sleep difficulties	59.4	10.0

Note. TOPS = Time Organization and Participation Scale; AASP = Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile; ADC = Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist; BRIEF-A = Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function; MSQ = Mini Sleep Questionnaire; NDD = neurodevelopmental disorders.

Table 4. Observed variable loadings with latent variables by group.

Loading			Group with NDD (n = 149)	Control group (n = 141)
LowReg_1	←	Sensory_processing	0.669	0.618
Sensitivity_1	←	Sensory_processing	0.885	0.919
Avoiding_1	←	Sensory_processing	0.816	0.795
ADC_A_1	←	Motor coordination	0.856	0.721
ADC_B_1	←	Motor coordination	0.873	0.749
ADC_C_1	←	Motor coordination	0.785	0.777
init_T_1	←	EF	0.856	0.873
WM_T_1	←	EF	0.757	0.795
plan_T_1	←	EF	0.929	0.842
taskm_T_1	←	EF	0.851	0.709
environ_T_1	←	EF	0.715	0.494
SleepSle_1	←	Sleep quality	0.395	0.426
SleepW_1	←	Sleep quality	0.454	0.382
M.TOPSA_1	←	Organization_time	0.748	0.601
M.TOPSB_1	←	Organization_time	0.822	0.802

Note. LowReg = low registration; ADC = Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder Checklist: -A = difficulty relating to others, -B = current function, -C = childhood function; EF = executive functions per Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function: init = initiation, WM = working memory, taskm = task monitor, environ = environment organization; SleepSle_1 = sleep; SleepW_1 = sleep–wake; MTOPS = Time Organization and Participation Scale: -A_1 = way of performing, -B_1 = rhythm of performance; NDD = neurodevelopmental disorders.

Figure 3. Structural equation model: relationships and regression coefficients between organization-in-time and emotional responses and between these variables and executive functions, sensory processing, motor coordination, and sleep quality.

Graph illustrating the analysis of SEM, which examines the relationship and regression coefficients between organization-in-time and emotional responses and between these variables and executive functions, sensory processing, motor coordination, and sleep quality.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author [SR]. The data are not publicly available because they contain information that could compromise the research participants’ privacy.