Research Summary
Aggression in Fragile X Syndrome
Date Published: August 2017
What was the research about?
Our Fragile X World (OFXW) researchers studied aggression in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and how it affects the parents and legal guardians who take care of them.
What did the research team do?
We conducted a survey which asked about how often individual's with FXS showed aggression, what triggered it, how it affected families, and what families did to handle it. We also looked at how often sensory or health issues were related to aggression.
Who was in the study?
Almost 800 caregivers of individuals with FXS completed the survey. Most caregivers who took the survey were white, college-educated, married women with an average age of 49 years. Children with FXS ranged in age from toddlers to older adults. Most children lived at home with their parents.
642males with FXS were included in the study, with an average age of 20 years.
Other disorders that males with FXS had
132 females with FXS were included in the study, with an average age of 16 years.
Other disorders that females with FXS had
What did the research team learn?
Having temper tantrums, being defiant, arguing, hitting, pushing, or kicking were common forms of aggression. Most of the children had 4 to 5 aggressive acts in the past year.
Aggression was often triggered by trouble communicating with others. Children with high anxiety, hyperactivity, sensory issues, and those from lower income families had more problems with aggression.
92%of males with FXS
had an aggressive act
in the past year.
Severity of aggression in males with FXS
23% Moderate
7% Severe
Consequences of aggressive acts for males
82%of females with FXS
had an aggressive act
in the past year.
Severity of aggression in females with FXS
18% Moderate
2% Severe
Consequences of aggressive acts for females
Common ways caregivers handled aggression
Redirecting the child's attention
Ignoring
Time out and loss of privileges
Calming activities
Medication
Behavioral therapy
What does this mean for families?
Many individuals with FXS have trouble with aggression. We learned that sensory issues, anxiety, or a lack of family resources can affect how often and how severely a person may act out with aggression. Individuals with FXS may act aggressively to try to deal with or escape from something that is frustrating or unpleasant to them. Understanding the triggers of aggression can help families and professionals decide how to prevent and treat this problem. For example, helping an individual learn other ways to communicate and interact with others may help reduce aggression.
Related resources
For additional resources, please visit our Resources for Families page and resources available from the National Fragile X Foundation.
- Fragile X Syndrome: A Guide for Parents by Parents
- Behavior and Fragile X Syndrome
- Managing Anxiety... What Works and Why?
- Ten Rules of Time-Out
- FXS Autism and Behavior with Mouse and Tracy – Valentine's Day Edition
Read the full article by Dr. Wheeler and colleagues
Source. Wheeler, A.C., Raspa, M., Bishop, E., Bailey Jr., D. B. (2016). Aggression in fragile X syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 60 Part 2, 113-125