The purpose of this dissertation was to use delay discounting to understand how teachers of students who engage in challenging behavior discount delays in behavioral treatment outcomes. Delay discounting is relevant to teacher decision-making because the length of time required to reduce challenging behavior through effective behavior…

Neurodivergent youth (i.e., autistic, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) are at increased risk for school refusal and subsequent disengagement. Factors associated with school refusal in this population remain unclear. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify profiles of school and demographic variables associated with…

This study of tertiary students in Hong Kong compared the association between spiritual health and psychological health, and the prevalence of severe symptoms of psychological distress, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected in two samples of students aged 17-24 in 2018 (N = 500) and 2020 (N = 568). The…

The commonly used Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-3) divides adaptive behavior into three domains comprising three subdomains. The validity of this three-factor structure has not been explored in autistic samples, which are often heterogeneous with respect to language and IQ. Furthermore, although there are two comparable forms,…

This study explores sex-differences in (a) rates and profiles of autism symptoms as well as in (b) the contribution of intellectual quotient (IQ) to autism symptom presentation in Down syndrome (DS). Participants were 40 males and 38 females with DS, aged 6 to 23 years. Autism symptoms were rated through the Autism Diagnostic Observation…

To date, research on traumatic stress and treatment-seeking behavior has primarily focused on Western populations. Despite experiencing similar levels of symptomatology, mental health service utilization appears lower among East Asian populations. Stigma toward mental health services may be one barrier to treatment-seeking, especially among…

Previous research on employment outcomes of autistic adults mainly assessed if they work and under what terms, with mostly anecdotal descriptions of where they work. This study aimed to identify the employment sector distribution of autistic employees compared to the general workforce in the Netherlands and to explore possible background…

A brief, parent-led, transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach demonstrated utility among youth struggling with emotional problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Homework completion between sessions is directly associated with psychotherapy treatment outcomes in non-parent-led CBT interventions. The present study sought to examine…

Anxiety, an affective factor, is pivotal in language learners' success or failure. Findings pointed to its correlation with oral performance, test results, and language skills, namely listening and writing, but only a little with reading. At the current research site, a Vietnamese context, very little evaluation on reading anxiety in English…

The COVID-19 lockdown affected children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, due to the disruption in rehabilitation and educational activities. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 315 preschool-aged children, 35 of which had autism, to investigate this impact. A questionnaire was administered to explore socio-demographic status,…

Objective: The impact of cannabis use disorder (CUD) on education functioning and GPA was examined within the context of co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants: Undergraduates (N = 210) who reported using cannabis within the past six months were recruited.…

Background: Stuttering development in preschool children might be influenced by parents' concern, awareness and knowledge. Indirect treatment may therefore be appropriate. Intervention in a group format has been shown to be positive for stuttering and an online procedure increases the accessibility of the intervention. Aims: The aim of this study…

Self-determination (SD) is linked to autonomy and better adult outcomes. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often less independent than cognitively matched peers. Given the frequency with which depression co-occurs in ASD and the established association between depression and SD, we sought to evaluate the influence of both ASD severity…

The present study evaluated the hypothesis that the strength of the relationship between executive function (EF) and repetitive behaviors and restricted interests (RBRI) symptomatology is moderated by the degree to which concurrent demands are placed on multiple aspects of EF. An eye movement task was used to evaluate inhibition and task switching…

Background: This study investigated the completion rates, scores and factors associated with non-completion and low scores on physical capability tests in a health survey administered to adults with intellectual disabilities. Method: Assessment comprised body mass index (BMI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the timed up-and-go…