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How does restricted and repetitive behavior relate to language and cognition in typical development?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2016

Fionnuala Larkin ,
Elizabeth Meins ,
Luna C. M. Centifanti ,
Charles Fernyhough  and
Susan R. Leekam
Fionnuala Larkin
Affiliation:
University of York
Elizabeth Meins*
Affiliation:
University of York
Luna C. M. Centifanti
Affiliation:
Durham University
Charles Fernyhough
Affiliation:
Durham University
Susan R. Leekam
Affiliation:
University of Cardiff
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Elizabeth Meins, Department of Psychology, University of York, York, United Kingdom; E-mail: elizabeth.meins@york.ac.uk.
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Abstract

Relations between restricted and repetitive behavior at age 26 months and children's concurrent (N = 203) and later (n = 161) social cognition and language development were investigated. Restricted and repetitive behavior was assessed using two scales: sensory and motor repetitive behaviors and rigidity/routines/restricted interests. Language was assessed at ages 26 and 51 months; social cognition was assessed at ages 26 (symbolic play) and 51 and 61 months (theory of mind). Sensory and motor repetitive behavior was negatively related to children's (a) language performance at 26 and 51 months, (b) instructed symbolic play at 26 months, and (c) theory of mind performance at 51 and 61 months. Path analyses showed that children's sensory and motor repetitive behavior at age 26 months was related to lower receptive verbal ability and theory of mind at 51 months, which led to lower theory of mind at 61 months. Rigidity/routines/restricted interests at 26 months were unrelated to concurrent and later social cognition and language. These results are discussed in terms of the pathways via which sensory and motor repetitive behavior might impact negatively on development.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , August 2017 , pp. 863 - 874
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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Footnotes

This research was supported by Grants R000239456 and RES-000-23-1073 from the Economic and Social Research Council. We thank the families for their generous participation in this longitudinal study; Bronia Arnott, Lorna Elliott, Beth Liddle, Alexandra Hearn, Lucia Vittorini, Kathryn Parkinson, and Julia Candy for their valuable contribution to data collection and coding; and the families for their generous participation.

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