Relationships between gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with Angelman Syndrome.
Date
2022-07-04Author
Leader, Geraldine
Gilligan, Rebecca
Whelan, Sally
Coyne, Rory
Caher, Aoife
White, Keeley
Traina, Ivan
Muchenje, Shellita
Machaka, Rudo L.
Mannion, Arlene
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Recommended Citation
Leader, Geraldine, Gilligan, Rebecca, Whelan, Sally, Coyne, Rory, Caher, Aoife, White, Keeley, Traina, Ivan, Muchenje, Shellita, Machaka, Rudo L., Mannion, Arlene. (2022). Relationships between challenging behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 128, 104293. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104293
Published Version
Abstract
Background
Angelman syndrome (AS), is a rare genetic disorder. This study investigated the relationship between parent-reported comorbid symptoms including gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, internalizing symptoms, and behavior problems in children and adolescents with AS.
Method
Parents of 98 children and adolescents with AS completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist, Social Communication Questionnaire, and the Behavior Problem Inventory-Short Form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions.
Results
There was a high frequency of GI symptoms (99%), sleep problems (95.9%), challenging behavior (98%), internalizing symptoms (38%), and 72.4% of children and adolescents presented with ASD symptoms. Self-injurious behavior (SIB), aggressive/destructive behavior, and the frequency of stereotyped behavior positively correlated with GI symptoms and sleep problems and it was moderately negatively associated with age. Internalizing symptoms and age were positively associated with SIB. Aggression was significantly related to gender, but not the presence of ASD symptoms.
Conclusions
Findings highlight the relationships between comorbid conditions. They may lead to a deeper understanding of how comorbidities present in children and adolescents with Angelman Syndrome.