CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN IN DEVELOPMENTAL NORMS AND WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. RESEARCH USING THE BPI-S INVENTORY
CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS OF CHILDREN IN DEVELOPMENTAL NORMS AND WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. RESEARCH USING THE BPI-S INVENTORY

Summary/Abstract: Challenging behaviors are not a common phenomenon only in groups of children with developmental disorders. They also pertain to children within the normal developmental range. Due to the nature of the problem and its occurrence, it seems crucial to understand challenging behaviors that may pose a threat to the children themselves and their surroundings. The aim of the research was to show any differences in the level of challenging behaviors in a group of developmentally normal children and in a group of children with autism spectrum disorders, as well as to determine the differences in their severity. The research procedure utilized the observation method. The study involved 77 children from public elementary schools, public kindergartens, a non-public special kindergarten, and non-public kindergartens in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. To measure challenging behaviors, the BPI-S – The Behavior Problems Inventory for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities – Short Form, authored by Rojahn (development of the Polish version of the questionnaire: Lew-Koralewicz and Łaba-Hornecka) was used. The BPI-S questionnaire was completed by teachers; children's participation in the study was indirect. A significant difference between the examined groups occurred in the area of stereotyped behaviors. No statistically significant difference was noted in the area of self-injurious behaviors and aggressive/destructive behaviors. In the group of typically developing children, aggressive/destructive behaviors were of moderate intensity. Meanwhile, in children with autism spectrum disorders, the same behaviors were characterized by low intensity. Conversely, the intensity of self-injurious behaviors in both groups was mostly moderate. The presented research findings provide a significant basis for undertaking systematic studies in this problematic area. Challenging behaviors are a barrier to learning and an obstacle to internalizing appropriate social behaviors. Issues of such behavior should be viewed globally, and actions should be taken that will comprehensively support both developmentally typical children and children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

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