Autism and Emotional Regulation Skills
Do you want to learn more about autism and emotional regulation skills?
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) can exhibit problematic emotional behavior as expressed in tantrums, irritability, aggression, self-injury, anxiety, and impulsivity. Sometimes the physiological arousal level of children can escalate and sometimes it may be a emotional regulation issue, or perhaps both.
What Does the Research Say on Autism and Emotional Regulation Skills?
The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders published research comparing the physiological arousal and behavioral regulation of emotion in the context of frustration in 29 children with ASD and 45 typically developing children (41–81 months). The researchers monitored each participants heart rate continuously and emotion strategies were coded, during a locked-box task.
The results indicated the following:
- heart rate monitoring showed increases in arousal followed by a decline during recovery in both groups
- heart rate patterns between groups were identical
- children with ASD used less constructive and more venting and avoidance strategies, which was related to language impairments
The researchers concluded that young children with ASD may not have abnormal levels of emotional arousal, but perhaps difficulties in regulating their behavior and expressing their emotions to others.
Reference: Zantinge, G., van Rijn, S., Stockmann, L., & Swaab, H. (2017). Physiological Arousal and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-10.
Resources to Help
Created by a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, this Sort and Match Emotions and Self Regulation Strategies Activity is a great addition any self regulation/behavior/social emotional learning curriculum (How Does Your Engine Run™, PBIS™, SEL™, Zones of Regulation™…) for fun ways to review and master the material.
Regulate then educate! This is so important to remember. Students need to practice emotional regulation skills in order to be ready to learn. This Emotional Regulation Skills PDF and/or Posters can help provide visual reminders and activities to promote regulation in the classroom and at home.
