A Component Analysis of Sleep-Conducive Behavior in a Young Adult with Autism

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2024

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Second Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Third Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Abstract

"Children with autism often display sleep problems (i.e., difficulty falling and staying asleep). A lack of sleep has been associated with challenging behavior, decreased academic performance, and increased parental stress. Behavior analytic interventions have been found effective in increasing sleep. However, there is limited research evaluating interventions for improving sleep for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who reside in a residential group home. In addition, most studies have included multiple component interventions without an evaluation of whether all components were necessary. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a component analysis of interventions to determine which were most effective in decreasing the latency to sleep onset in individuals with autism at a residential group home. Components included prompting a bedtime routine, providing continuous access to soothing sounds, contingency review with delayed reinforcement, and bedtime fading. These components were systematically introduced until sleep-onset latency was reduced to criterion levels, and the effects of intervention was replicated using a reversal design. Sleep, or sleep-conducive behavior, defined as minimal motor movements and a resting heart rate, were obtained from a Fitbit. All treatment components were necessary for decreasing latency to sleep-conducive behavior to criterion levels for one adult man with ASD."

This document is available upon request to Western New England University faculty, students, and staff. Please contact D'Amour Library at dref@wne.edu for access.

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