Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders

Abstract Background School attendance problems are common among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated the role of ASD and ADHD symptoms in school attendance problems among youth with rare genetic disorders, which are present in...

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Main Authors: Stian Orm, Ingrid Tien, Jeffrey Wood, Krister Fjermestad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Discover Psychology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00303-6
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author Stian Orm
Ingrid Tien
Jeffrey Wood
Krister Fjermestad
author_facet Stian Orm
Ingrid Tien
Jeffrey Wood
Krister Fjermestad
author_sort Stian Orm
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background School attendance problems are common among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated the role of ASD and ADHD symptoms in school attendance problems among youth with rare genetic disorders, which are present in fewer than 1 in 2000 people. Method Parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) about their youth with a rare genetic disorder (N = 93; M age = 13.2 years, SD = 2.3, 62.4% females, 37.6% males). School attendance problems were assessed with the CBCL school anxiety and truancy items. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Results One-fourth of the sample (27%) displayed school anxiety, and 11% displayed truancy. More ASD symptoms (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.02, 1.06]) and ADHD symptoms (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.07, 1.38]) were associated with a higher risk of school anxiety. The analyses indicated that the associations between ASD and ADHD symptoms and school anxiety could be accounted for by internalizing symptoms. Externalizing symptoms were associated with truancy. There was no relationship between ASD/ADHD symptoms and truancy. Conclusions More ASD and ADHD symptoms in youth with rare genetic disorders are associated with an increased risk of being afraid of school, but not truancy. The risk entangled by ASD and ADHD symptoms can be accounted for by the commonly co-occurring internalizing symptoms. Assessment of ASD and ADHD symptomatology in youth with rare genetic disorders may be important to target educational and psychosocial support and prevent school attendance problems.
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spelling doaj-art-e933eb1700c94322b91ef09f8fe6675f2024-11-24T12:38:27ZengSpringerDiscover Psychology2731-45372024-11-014111410.1007/s44202-024-00303-6Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disordersStian Orm0Ingrid Tien1Jeffrey Wood2Krister Fjermestad3Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Education, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Education, University of CaliforniaFrambu Resource Center for Rare DisordersAbstract Background School attendance problems are common among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated the role of ASD and ADHD symptoms in school attendance problems among youth with rare genetic disorders, which are present in fewer than 1 in 2000 people. Method Parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) about their youth with a rare genetic disorder (N = 93; M age = 13.2 years, SD = 2.3, 62.4% females, 37.6% males). School attendance problems were assessed with the CBCL school anxiety and truancy items. The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Results One-fourth of the sample (27%) displayed school anxiety, and 11% displayed truancy. More ASD symptoms (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.02, 1.06]) and ADHD symptoms (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.07, 1.38]) were associated with a higher risk of school anxiety. The analyses indicated that the associations between ASD and ADHD symptoms and school anxiety could be accounted for by internalizing symptoms. Externalizing symptoms were associated with truancy. There was no relationship between ASD/ADHD symptoms and truancy. Conclusions More ASD and ADHD symptoms in youth with rare genetic disorders are associated with an increased risk of being afraid of school, but not truancy. The risk entangled by ASD and ADHD symptoms can be accounted for by the commonly co-occurring internalizing symptoms. Assessment of ASD and ADHD symptomatology in youth with rare genetic disorders may be important to target educational and psychosocial support and prevent school attendance problems.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00303-6School attendance problemsNeurodevelopmental disordersAutismADHDRare disorders
spellingShingle Stian Orm
Ingrid Tien
Jeffrey Wood
Krister Fjermestad
Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
Discover Psychology
School attendance problems
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Autism
ADHD
Rare disorders
title Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
title_full Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
title_fullStr Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
title_full_unstemmed Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
title_short Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
title_sort autism and attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms as risk factors of school attendance problems in youth with rare genetic disorders
topic School attendance problems
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Autism
ADHD
Rare disorders
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00303-6
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