The effects of 'preferedness of task' on stress, emotion, and behaviour responses to forced activity transitions in boys with ASD

Background: Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit distress when asked to transition from one task to another. This study aimed to determine if physiological stress during transition was due to ASDrelated rigidity or to their preference for some tasks over others.
Method: The effects of change of task alone versus a change in task 'preferedness' when undergoing forced activity transition were investigated in 29 boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Results: Total sample data indicated a significant increase in heart rate (HR) during transition from a preferred to a non-preferred task, but not during transition from one preferred task to another preferred task, or from a nonpreferred task to a preferred task. These data are suggestive of an effect due to the 'preferedness' of the task rather than just the change in task alone. Two subgroups of participants emerged, one which followed the 'expected' HR responsivity model to stress, and one which failed to follow that model.
Conclusion: Transition-related distress may be confounded by preferredness of task when understanding transition stress in boys with ASD.