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Associations of Autistic Traits and Autism with Incontinence and Constipation in a UK Birth Cohort

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Title: Associations of Autistic Traits and Autism with Incontinence and Constipation in a UK Birth Cohort
Language: English
Authors: Prince Gyamenah (ORCID 0009-0009-6978-6877), Kimberley Burrows, Dheeraj Rai, Carol Joinson
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026 56(5):1999-2008.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Physiology, Early Adolescents, Preadolescents, Foreign Countries, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Individual Characteristics, Socioeconomic Status, Speech Skills, Communication Skills, Correlation, Probability
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06663-1
ISSN: 0162-3257
1573-3432
Abstract: There is evidence that children with autism/autistic traits have higher risks of incontinence and constipation, but no studies have examined this in a large community-based cohort. Aim/Research question: are autistic traits and diagnosed autism prospectively associated with increased odds of incontinence and constipation in children and adolescents? This was a population-based cohort study based on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 4233-4490 at age 9 years; n = 3403-3697 at age 14). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations of parent-reported autistic traits (sociability, repetitive behaviours, social-communication, coherence) (at ages 3-9 years) and autism with incontinence (bedwetting, daytime-wetting, soiling) and constipation (parent-reported at age 9, self-reported at age 14). We adjusted for parity, maternal age at delivery, child's sex and developmental level, maternal depression, and anxiety (antenatal and postnatal), and indicators of family socioeconomic status. Social-communication and speech coherence difficulties showed the strongest associations with incontinence, e.g., adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between social-communication difficulties and daytime-wetting was 2.21 (1.47-3.32) and for coherence was 2.34 (1.60-3.43). The odds of soiling were also higher in children with social-communication (OR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.28-2.75) and coherence difficulties (OR: 2.04, 95% CI 1.43-2.93). Diagnosed autism was only associated with an increase in the odds of daytime-wetting (OR: 3.18, 95% CI 1.44-7.02). At 14 years, there was less evidence of associations between autistic traits and incontinence but there was evidence of associations between autistic traits and constipation: social-communication (OR: 1.68, 95% CI 1.13-2.49), coherence difficulties (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.11-2.41). Early assessment and treatment of incontinence/constipation should be considered for children with autistic traits.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1510868
Database: ERIC
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  – Url: https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1007/s10803-024-06663-1
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Prince+Gyamenah%22">Prince Gyamenah</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0009-0009-6978-6877">0009-0009-6978-6877</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kimberley+Burrows%22">Kimberley Burrows</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dheeraj+Rai%22">Dheeraj Rai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carol+Joinson%22">Carol Joinson</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Autism+and+Developmental+Disorders%22"><i>Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2026 56(5):1999-2008.
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism+Spectrum+Disorders%22">Autism Spectrum Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physiology%22">Physiology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Adolescents%22">Early Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preadolescents%22">Preadolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms+%28Individual+Disorders%29%22">Symptoms (Individual Disorders)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Status%22">Socioeconomic Status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Skills%22">Speech Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication+Skills%22">Communication Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correlation%22">Correlation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Probability%22">Probability</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink>
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  Data: 0162-3257<br />1573-3432
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: There is evidence that children with autism/autistic traits have higher risks of incontinence and constipation, but no studies have examined this in a large community-based cohort. Aim/Research question: are autistic traits and diagnosed autism prospectively associated with increased odds of incontinence and constipation in children and adolescents? This was a population-based cohort study based on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 4233-4490 at age 9 years; n = 3403-3697 at age 14). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations of parent-reported autistic traits (sociability, repetitive behaviours, social-communication, coherence) (at ages 3-9 years) and autism with incontinence (bedwetting, daytime-wetting, soiling) and constipation (parent-reported at age 9, self-reported at age 14). We adjusted for parity, maternal age at delivery, child's sex and developmental level, maternal depression, and anxiety (antenatal and postnatal), and indicators of family socioeconomic status. Social-communication and speech coherence difficulties showed the strongest associations with incontinence, e.g., adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between social-communication difficulties and daytime-wetting was 2.21 (1.47-3.32) and for coherence was 2.34 (1.60-3.43). The odds of soiling were also higher in children with social-communication (OR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.28-2.75) and coherence difficulties (OR: 2.04, 95% CI 1.43-2.93). Diagnosed autism was only associated with an increase in the odds of daytime-wetting (OR: 3.18, 95% CI 1.44-7.02). At 14 years, there was less evidence of associations between autistic traits and incontinence but there was evidence of associations between autistic traits and constipation: social-communication (OR: 1.68, 95% CI 1.13-2.49), coherence difficulties (OR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.11-2.41). Early assessment and treatment of incontinence/constipation should be considered for children with autistic traits.
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        Value: 10.1007/s10803-024-06663-1
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