Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Sleep Problems, Challenging Behavior, Adaptive Behavior, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of demographic information

	M	SD
Age of diagnosis (in years)
ASD	5.77	3.23
AD/HD	6.31	2.86
	n	%
Educational Intervention	116	98.30
Mainstream approaches	77	65.30
Applied Behavior Analysis	11	9.30
Eclectic approaches	1	0.80
Other	27	22.90
Medication	77	65.30
Melatonin	38	32.20
Methylphenidate	18	14.29
Risperidone	10	7.94
Atomoxetine	10	7.94
Fluoxetine	6	4.76
Clonidine	6	4.76
Anxiety disorder	22	18.60
Generalized Anxiety Disorder	16	72.70
Separation Anxiety Disorder	4	18.30
Selective mutism	1	4.50
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)	1	4.5%

Table 2. Pearson Correlation Coefficient matrix for measured variables

	1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.	7.	8.
1. Age
2. Age at AD/HD diagnosis	.42**
3. Sleep problems	-.17	.01
4. GI symptoms	-.23*	-.19*	.37**
5. SIB severity	-.02	-.06	.27**	.20*
6. Aggression severity	-.09	.10	.33**	.10	.29**
7. Quality of Life	-.07	-.01	-.41**	-.33**	-.49**	-.29**
8. Adaptive Behavior	-.36**	-.22*	-.03	.14	-.41**	-.04	.26**
9. Inattention/ Hyperactivity (age 2-6 years)	-.27	.41*	.41*	-.03	.36	.32	-.62**	-.46*
10. Inattention (age 6-16 years)	.05	.35**	.11	-.04	.17	.07	-.24*	-.30**
11. Hyperactivity/ Impulsivity (age 6-16 years)	-.16	.23*	.25*	.05	.21*	.32**	-.22*	-.16

*p < .05

**p < .01

Table 3. Summary of caregiver-reported GI symptoms within the previous six months

	n	%
One or more symptom	95	80.50
One symptom	22	18.60
Two symptoms	32	27.10
Three symptoms	31	26.30
Four symptoms	9	7.60
Five symptoms	1	0.80
Abdominal Pain	62	52.50
Constipation	55	46.60
Diarrhea	46	39.00
Nausea	36	30.50
Bloating	18	15.30
Other symptoms	5	4.20

Table 4. Summary of the ASD and ASD+ADHD Groups by the Study Variables

	ASD	ASD+AH/HD	Difference between Groups
Age of Participant	M =8.91, SD =4.21	M =9.63, SD =.69	t (116) = -0.65, p = .516).
Total GI Symptoms	M =1.77, SD =1.17	M =1.88, SD =1.28	t (116) = -0.29, p = .775.
Constipation	30.8%	48.6%	*χ^2 =11.22, p < .01, φ =.31
Treatments for GI	30.8%	36.2%	χ^2 = .15, p = .769, φ = .04.
Total Sleep Problems	M =46.62, SD=8.46	M =55.52, SD=10.36	* t (116) = -2.98, p < .01.
Bedtime resistance	M = 6.41	M = 9.44	* U = 267.00, p < .006.
Sleep anxiety	M = 5.75	M = 7.26	U = 460.00, p = .053.
Stereotyped Behavior frequency	M =11.31, D=10.59	M =19.80, SD=12.04	* t (116) = -2.43, p < .05
Quality of Life	M =65.06, D=12.06	M =46.84, SD =16	*t (116) = 3.96, p < .001
Psychosocial health	M=58.41, SD=14.45	M =41.74, SD=15.26	*t (116) = 3.74, p < .001.
Physical Health	M = 88.19	M = 55.95	*U = 309.50, p < .05.
Rate of Medication Use	23.1%	60%	* χ^2 = 6.39, p < .05
*= Significant difference

Table 5. Pearson’s Correlation statistics for predictor and criterion variables

Variable	1	2	3	4	5
1. Total Sleep Problems
2. Total GI Symptoms	.36**
3. AD/HD Symptoms	-.26*	.02
4. Age	-.17*	-.23*	-.03
5. Gender	-.04	-.04	-.06	.07
6. Medication Use	.16*	-.08	-.31**	.30***	.06
Variable	1	2	3
1. HRQoL
2. AD/HD Symptoms	.35***
3. Level of ID	.02	-.18*
4. Age	-.07	-.03	.10

*p < .05, **p < .01, p< .001

Table 6. Summary of hierarchical multiple regression analysis for variables predicting Total Sleep Problems and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL)

Predictor	Β		SE	β		p	F		R²		Adj. R²
Sleep Problems (Total CSHQ)								6.88		0.24		0.20
Total GI symptoms	2.88	0.71			0.35**	.001**
AD/HD symptoms	-2.34	0.93			-0.22*	.014*
Age	-.41	0.25			-0.15	.108
Gender	-0.99	2.01			-0.04	.635
Medication Use
Quality of Life (Total PedsQL)
AD/HD Symptoms	6.14	1.50			0.36***	.001***
Gender	-.68	3.52			-0.02	.848
Presence of ID	1.67	1.54			0.10	.281
Age	-.31	0.39			-0.07	.433

*p < .05, **p < .01, p< .001