Investigation of the Association Between Motor Stereotypy Behavior With Fundamental Movement Skills, Adaptive Functioning, and Autistic Spectrum Disorder Symptomology in Children With Intellectual Disabilities

Motor stereotypy behaviors (MSB) are patterned, coordinated, repetitive behaviors that are particularly evident in those with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities. The extent to which MSB severity is associated with motor skills and maladaptive behavior, measures of adaptive functioning, along with fundamental movement skills (FMS) and degree of ASD symptomology is assessed in this preliminary report. Twelve participants, aged 7-16 years, with a reported MSB and either mild or severe intellectual disability comprising developmental or global delay took part in the study. Spearman’s rho correlational analysis showed that severity of MSB was significantly positively correlated with ASD symptomology (P=0.008) and maladaptive behavior (P=0.008) but not FMS (P>0.05). An increase in FMS score was associated with a decrease in ASD symptomology (P=0.01) and an increase in motor skills (P=0.002). This study provides evidence showing a significant relationship between MSB severity with degree of ASD symptomology and maladaptive behavior.