Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be accompanied by aggressive behavior and is associated with sensory processing difficulties. The present study aims to investigate the direct association between sensory processing and aggressive behavior in adults with ASD. A total of 101 Dutch adult participants with ASD, treated in outpatient or inpatient facilities, completed the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP), the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ), and the Aggression Questionnaire—Short Form (AQ-SF). Results revealed that sensory processing difficulties are associated with more aggressive behavior ($f^2=0.25$), more proactive ($f^2=0.19$) and reactive aggression ($f^2=0.27$), more physical ($f^2=0.08$) and verbal aggression ($f^2=0.13$), and more anger ($f^2=0.20$) and hostility ($f^2=0.12$). Evidence was found for an interaction of the neurological threshold and behavioral response on total aggression and hostility. Participants with higher scores in comparison to the norm group in sensory sensitivity had the highest risk of aggressive behavior. In conclusion, clinical practice may benefit from applying detailed diagnostics on sensory processing difficulties when treating aggressive behavior in adults with ASD.

中文翻译：

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成人自闭症谱系障碍者的感觉加工和攻击行为

自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）可能伴有攻击行为，并伴有感觉处理困难。本研究旨在调查成人ASD的感觉处理与攻击行为之间的直接关联。在门诊或住院设施中接受治疗的101名荷兰成人ASD参与者，完成了成人/青少年的感官档案（AASP），积极主动的侵略性问卷（RPQ）和侵略性问卷-简短表格（AQ-SF） 。结果显示，感觉处理困难与更积极的行为有关（$F^2=0.25$），更主动（$F^2=0.19$）和反应性攻击（$F^2=0.27$），更实际（$F^2=0.08$）和语言侵略性（$F^2=0.13$），更发怒（$F^2=0.20$）和敌意（$F^2=0.12$）。有证据表明神经学阈值和行为反应对总的攻击性和敌意有相互作用。与普通组相比，在感觉敏感性上得分较高的参与者具有较高的攻击行为风险。总之，在治疗ASD成人的侵略性行为时，对感觉处理困难进行详细的诊断可能会有益于临床实践。