Exploring Adaptive Behavior and Social-Behavioral Variables in Females with Full Mutation Fragile X Syndrome (2015)

Undergraduate: Caroline deSaussure

Faculty Advisor: Heather Hazlett
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Purpose: To examine potential contributors of adaptive behavior in females with fragile X syndrome (FXS), including IQ, autism symptoms, executive function (EF), and anxiety.

Hypothesis: After controlling for converted nonverbal IQ, autism symptoms, EF, and anxiety will be significant predictors of adaptive behavior, with EF serving as the greatest predictor.

Experimental approach: Data from females with FXS who participated in a larger study was examined. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to examiner predictors of adaptive behavior in females with FXS.

Summary of results: Of the twenty-one females assessed, only one has enough autism symptoms to suggest a clinical diagnosis, although each participant¿¿¿s autistic symptoms were assessed on a spectrum. Adaptive behavior was significantly correlated with EF, IQ, and parent-reported autism symptoms. IQ accounted for a significant amount of variance in adaptive behavior, R2 = .43, F(1,19) = 14.15, p < .01. After controlling for IQ, EF, anxiety, and autism symptoms did not account for a significant proportion of adaptive behavior variance, R2 change = .22, F(3,16) = 3.21, p = .051, nor did they contribute individually as significant predictors. Conclusions and implications: Women with FXS have a great diversity in their functional independence, autism symptoms, intelligence, and EF. Although limited by the small sample size, this study provides valuable information on the varying outcomes of females with FXS.