Early executive functioning predicts externalizing problems in neurodiverse preschoolers

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit externalizing problems, which have been linked with increased anxiety and depression, peer rejection, and parental stress. Identification of early predictors of externalizing behaviors in autism will facilitate identification of vulnerable children and implementation of early preventative interventions. There is ample evidence that executive functioning, social functioning, and temperament are predictive of later externalizing problems in general populations, but less is known about these relations in ASD and other neurodiverse populations, particularly in the early preschool years. To address this gap, we assessed the relations between executive functioning, social functioning, and temperament at age 3 and externalizing problems at age 5 in a sample of neurodiverse children with ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders and delays. Analyses revealed that severity of early executive functioning impairment predicted increased externalizing problems. Severity of social autism symptoms moderated this relationship such that the effect of executive functioning on externalizing problems decreased as autism symptoms increased. These findings suggest that executive functioning is an important target for identifying and developing interventions for vulnerable children and underscore the necessity of considering severity of autism symptoms when researching the development of externalizing problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The current study examined potential predictors for externalizing problems (disruptive behavior, defiance, etc.) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders. We found that impairments in executive functioning (processes such as inhibition and emotional control that help with goal-directed behavior) at age 3 predicted more externalizing problems at age 5. This relationship was stronger for children with fewer social autism symptoms. These findings could help with identifying children who are likely to have externalizing problems and developing interventions to prevent future externalizing problems.