Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core feature of autism but remain understudied relative to social communication difficulties. Existing interventions either overlook RRBs or treat them as a homogeneous construct, despite evidence that different RRBs vary in their developmental impact. The proposed research examines the developmental significance of RRBs and operationalizes a way to subjectively discern adaptive from maladaptive RRBs. It also examines family accommodation as a potential mechanism for supporting autistic children in the context of maladaptive RRBs. This research, conducted in the Autism Child & Family Lab, includes (1) a longitudinal assessment of RRBs and adaptive functioning at three time points over the course of a year; (2) an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using mobile technology to capture real-time expressions of RRBs and, along with a novel semi-structured interview, allow for evidence-based identification of maladaptive RRBs; and (3) integrating the technology from study 2, the development and feasibility testing of a novel parent-mediated intervention, SPACE for RRBs, aimed at reducing maladaptive RRBs and improving adaptive functioning through the reduction of family accommodation. This research is innovative in its use of EMA to capture the lived experience of RRBs, its operationalized approach to discerning maladaptive from adaptive RRBs within subjective ecological contexts, and its development of a novel parent-mediated intervention targeting family accommodation to improve child functioning. Findings are expected to enhance theoretical understanding of RRBs, inform more nuanced measurement and intervention strategies, and support the development of community-based, parent-mediated approaches to supporting young autistic children.

Supervisor: Dr. Judah Koller