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Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Males and Females with Fragile X Syndrome: Developmental Trajectories in Toddlers Through Young Adults

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Abstract

There is limited research on the trajectory of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in fragile X syndrome (FXS), with previous studies only examining males and/or examining RRBs as a unitary construct rather than delineating subtypes of RRBs. Thus, we described the trajectory of five subtypes of RRBs in 153 males and females with FXS (aged 1–18 years) with repeated measurement over time (445 total assessments). Multilevel modeling was used to test age-related differences in RRB subtypes between males and females with FXS, controlling for nonverbal IQ. Results showed that lower-order Sensory-Motor behaviors decreased over time for both males and females, while there was no significant change in the higher-order RRBs. The trajectory between males and females differed for Self-Injury.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the families who participated in this study for their time and dedication. We also wish to thank Megan Braconnier and Iris Garza, who assisted with manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA

    Lauren J. Moskowitz

  2. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Elizabeth A. Will, Conner J. Black & Jane E. Roberts

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  1. Lauren J. Moskowitz
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  2. Elizabeth A. Will
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  3. Conner J. Black
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  4. Jane E. Roberts
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Contributions

LJM conceptualized the manuscript, wrote the initial draft of the manuscript, participated in the design of the study and interpretation of the data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. EAW performed the statistical analysis, participated in interpretation of the data, wrote the Results section, created the Figures, and helped revise the manuscript. CJB participated in conducting the statistical analysis, assisted with interpretation of the data, and drafted the Methods section. JER conceived of and designed the larger longitudinal study from which the data were drawn, participated in the design and interpretation of the data for this study, and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lauren J. Moskowitz.

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Moskowitz, L.J., Will, E.A., Black, C.J. et al. Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Males and Females with Fragile X Syndrome: Developmental Trajectories in Toddlers Through Young Adults. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 3957–3966 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04459-7

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