Between- and within-child level associations between externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in a nationally representative sample of US elementary school children.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry
; 65(8): 1010-1021, 2024 Aug.
Article
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| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38253062
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Both transactional and common etiological models have been proposed as explanations of why externalizing behavior problems (EBP) and internalizing behavior problems (IBP) co-occur in children. Yet little research has empirically evaluated these competing theoretical explanations. We examined whether EBP and IBP are transactionally related at the within-child level while also identifying antecedents commonly associated with between-child differences in underlying stability of both EBP and IBP across elementary school.METHODS:
We analyzed a nationally representative and longitudinal sample of US schoolchildren (N = 7,326; 51% male) using random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM). We used teacher ratings of EBP and IBP as annually assessed from the spring of kindergarten (Mage = 6.12 years) through the spring of 5th grade (Mage = 11.09 years). Early childhood antecedents included child internal (i.e. inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and language/literacy) and external factors (i.e. parental warmth, harsh parenting, parenting stress, and maternal depressive symptoms).RESULTS:
We found little evidence for within-child, transactional relations between EBP and IBP. Both types of behavior problems instead were substantially associated at the between-child level. Inhibitory control was the strongest common antecedent that explained this longitudinal overlap. Cognitive flexibility, working memory, language/literacy skills, and maternal depression contributed specifically to the stability of IBP. Measures of parenting were specific to the stability of EBP.CONCLUSIONS:
Common etiological factors rather than transactional relations better explain the co-occurrence of EBP and IBP during elementary school. Inhibitory control is a promising target of early intervention efforts for schoolchildren at risk of displaying both EBP and IBP.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Problema de Conducta
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
País como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article