Prevalence and Correlates of Bullying Involvement among Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objectives: Produce nationally representative estimates for rates of bullying involvement among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder, compare population estimates to adolescents with other developmental disabilities, and identify social ecological correlates of bullying involvement. Design: Nationally representative surveys from 2001. Setting: United States. Participants: Parents of adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder, principals of the schools they attended, and staff members most familiar with their school programs. Main Exposure: Autism spectrum disorders Outcomes Measures: Bullying involvement (parent report of victimization, perpetration, and victimization/perpetration within the last school year). Results: The prevalence rates of bullying involvement for adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder were 46.3% (victimization), 14.8% (perpetration), and 8.9% (victimization/perpetration). Victimization was related to having a non-Hispanic ethnic identity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, lower social skills, some form of conversational ability, and more classes in general education. Correlates of perpetration included being White, having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and getting together with friends at least once a week. Victimization/perpetration was associated with being White, non-Hispanic ethnicity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and getting together with friends at least once a week. Conclusions: School-based bullying interventions need to target the core deficits of autism (conversational ability, social skills) and comorbid conditions (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Future bullying interventions also need to address the higher rates of victimization that occur in general education settings by increasing social integration into protective peer groups and increasing the empathy and social skills of typically developing students toward their peers with an autism spectrum disorder.