ABSTRACT
Noncontingent reinforcement is a commonly used procedure to decrease levels of problem behavior. Goals of this intervention are to decrease motivation, responding, and the functional relation between behavior and consequences, but it could also possibly compete with performance of alternative desirable responses. In the current study, we assessed the effects of noncontingent reinforcement arranged from 0% to 100% of sessions on performance of alternative responding across two experiments. Experiment 1 assessed manding (i.e., requests) maintained by attention and tangibles with a child with developmental disabilities and Experiment 2 assessed keypecking maintained by food with six pigeons. We extended previous research by (a) showing that noncontingent reinforcement competes with both the acquisition and maintenance (performance) of an alternative response, (b) extending the generality of the findings across nonhuman and human participants, and (c) eliminating influence of sequence effects through random manipulations of noncontingent value in pigeons. Overall, greater amounts of noncontingent reinforcement competed with both acquisition and maintenance of alternative responding.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/psychology , Reinforcement, Psychology , Aggression/psychology , Animals , Behavior Therapy , Child , Columbidae , Conditioning, Operant , Developmental Disabilities/therapy , Humans , Male , Problem Behavior/psychologyABSTRACT
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be at increased risk for overweight and obesity, but little information is known about correlates of overweight and obesity in this population. This study compared prevalence rates of parent-reported overweight and obesity and specific health behaviors (i.e., parent report of child sleep, family meal patterns, child screen time, and child physical activity) among children with ASD (N = more than 900 [weighted to represent 690,000; age 10-17]) compared with children without ASD using data from a nationally representative sample. Additionally, the relationship between specific health behaviors (i.e., child sleep, family meals, screen time, and physical activity) and weight status was examined in the ASD population. Data were from the National Survey of Children's Health 2011-2012. Results indicate that children with ASD were more likely to be obese but not more likely to be overweight than non-ASD youth. Children with ASD engaged in physical activity less than children without ASD, but no differences were found on sleep, most measures of screen time, and mealtimes. However, parent perceived poorer sleep was associated with increased weight status, and fewer family meals were associated with normal weight status among children with ASD.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder/epidemiology , Life Style , Overweight/epidemiology , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Adolescent , Child , Comorbidity , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Motor Activity/physiology , Prevalence , Sleep/physiology , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders increases, practitioners across the state of Missouri face an increasing need to understand and provide evidence-based clinical care for these children and families. We describe the breadth of diagnosis and treatment services offered at Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, Missouri), one of the designated Missouri Autism Centers, to demonstrate a model of implementation for evidence-based practice. Finally, we discuss relevant clinical considerations and provide resources for physicians to assist in the care and education of their patients.
