The Relationship between Self-Regulation and Behaviour in Adolescents Diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• Author / Creator

  Sarah O.M. Keller

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes a range of neurodevelopmental deficits that can occur due to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and affects approximately 4% of Canadians. PAE has been known to impact several areas of functioning, including self-regulation which encompasses a series of higher order processes that allow individuals to control their emotions, actions, and overall behaviour. Poor self-regulation without intervention has been associated with difficulties in judgement, planning, delaying gratification, considering consequences, organization, and impulsivity. In terms of behaviour, poor self-regulation has been linked to both internalizing problems, such as social withdraw, and externalizing problems, such as rule-breaking and aggression. To date, no research has been developed to explore how these concepts may relate to one another in adolescents diagnosed with FASD. In the current study, 27 adolescents diagnosed with FASD completed measures of both self-regulation and behavioural functioning. Through correlational analyses it was found that poor short-term self-regulation skills were significantly related to reports of overall behavioural problems broadly, and externalizing behavioural problems specifically. As PAE is known to impact self-regulation as well as behaviour, coming to a better understanding of how these factors relate could help researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to make informed decisions in terms of interventions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Behaviour
  • Adolescence
  • FASD
  • Self-Regulation

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-amab-3s36

• License

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