A factor analysis of challenging behaviors assessed with the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtism Traits (BISCUIT-Part 3)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in socialization, communication, and restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. In addition to these core deficits, individuals with ASD also experience co-occurring conditions such as problem behaviors. Problem behaviors are common to this population and can have detrimental effects on the person's life and those who care for them. Due to the consequences of these behaviors, regular monitoring is necessary to identify these behaviors and implement treatment. The BISCUIT-Part 3 is the only measure designed to assess problem behaviors in infants and toddlers with ASD. The purpose of this study was to identify the factor structure of the BISCUIT-Part 3 through exploratory factor analysis and determine the ability of these factors to predict group membership.