Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Differences in temperament have been linked to later mental health. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an increased likelihood of experiencing such problems, including anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder; yet, relations betw...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816041/full |
| _version_ | 1811304074964893696 |
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| author | Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Susan E. Bryson Jessica A. Brian Jessica A. Brian Isabel M. Smith Nancy Garon Tracy Vaillancourt Caroline Roncadin |
| author_facet | Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Susan E. Bryson Jessica A. Brian Jessica A. Brian Isabel M. Smith Nancy Garon Tracy Vaillancourt Caroline Roncadin |
| author_sort | Lori-Ann R. Sacrey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Differences in temperament have been linked to later mental health. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an increased likelihood of experiencing such problems, including anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder; yet, relations between early temperament and later mental health are not well understood. In this paper, we assess the relationship between temperament in infancy and internalizing and externalizing behavior at age 5, in 178 children at an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with ASD (i.e., younger siblings of children with ASD). Temperament was assessed using the parent-reported Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) at 6 and 12 months of age and the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire-Revised (TBAQ-R) at 24 months of age. Mental health problems were assessed using the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at age 5. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions, with individual temperament subscale scores as single predictor variables (Subscale Score) or temperament profiles using confirmatory factor analyses (Person-Centered Profile) in the first block, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule total severity scores at age 3 in the second block, and expressive and receptive language scores (from Mullen Scales of Early Learning) at age 3 in the third block for each model. Three main findings were: (1) 4 of 6 IBQ subscales at both 6 and 12 months significantly predicted internalizing and externalizing problems at age 5; (2) 9 and 8 of 13 TBAQ-R subscales at 24 months significantly predicted internalizing and externalizing problems, respectively, at age 5; and (3) a “sticky attention” temperament profile significantly predicted internalizing problems, whereas a “low-focused” profile significantly predicted externalizing problems, both at age 5. The results of this study support the supposition that temperament is a trans-diagnostic risk factor for later mental health conditions. Exploring temperament profiles and trajectories may illuminate early avenues for prevention in siblings of children with ASD who are at an increased likelihood of experiencing mental health problems, regardless of ASD diagnostic status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:59:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1ffd21b74244050ad77f2ce5a174fbb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:59:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1ffd21b74244050ad77f2ce5a174fbb2022-12-22T02:55:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-04-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.816041816041Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum DisorderLori-Ann R. Sacrey0Lori-Ann R. Sacrey1Lonnie Zwaigenbaum2Lonnie Zwaigenbaum3Susan E. Bryson4Jessica A. Brian5Jessica A. Brian6Isabel M. Smith7Nancy Garon8Tracy Vaillancourt9Caroline Roncadin10Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaAutism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaAutism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaDalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, CanadaBloorview Research Institute, Toronto, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaDalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, CanadaDepartment of Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, CanadaMcMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, CanadaDifferences in temperament have been linked to later mental health. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an increased likelihood of experiencing such problems, including anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder; yet, relations between early temperament and later mental health are not well understood. In this paper, we assess the relationship between temperament in infancy and internalizing and externalizing behavior at age 5, in 178 children at an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with ASD (i.e., younger siblings of children with ASD). Temperament was assessed using the parent-reported Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) at 6 and 12 months of age and the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire-Revised (TBAQ-R) at 24 months of age. Mental health problems were assessed using the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at age 5. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions, with individual temperament subscale scores as single predictor variables (Subscale Score) or temperament profiles using confirmatory factor analyses (Person-Centered Profile) in the first block, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule total severity scores at age 3 in the second block, and expressive and receptive language scores (from Mullen Scales of Early Learning) at age 3 in the third block for each model. Three main findings were: (1) 4 of 6 IBQ subscales at both 6 and 12 months significantly predicted internalizing and externalizing problems at age 5; (2) 9 and 8 of 13 TBAQ-R subscales at 24 months significantly predicted internalizing and externalizing problems, respectively, at age 5; and (3) a “sticky attention” temperament profile significantly predicted internalizing problems, whereas a “low-focused” profile significantly predicted externalizing problems, both at age 5. The results of this study support the supposition that temperament is a trans-diagnostic risk factor for later mental health conditions. Exploring temperament profiles and trajectories may illuminate early avenues for prevention in siblings of children with ASD who are at an increased likelihood of experiencing mental health problems, regardless of ASD diagnostic status.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816041/fullautism spectrum disorderparent reportincreased likelihood siblingsprospectivetemperamentproblem behaviors |
| spellingShingle | Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lori-Ann R. Sacrey Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Susan E. Bryson Jessica A. Brian Jessica A. Brian Isabel M. Smith Nancy Garon Tracy Vaillancourt Caroline Roncadin Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder Frontiers in Psychology autism spectrum disorder parent report increased likelihood siblings prospective temperament problem behaviors |
| title | Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full | Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_fullStr | Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_short | Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an Increased Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_sort | temperament in infancy predicts internalizing and externalizing problem behavior at age 5 in children with an increased likelihood of autism spectrum disorder |
| topic | autism spectrum disorder parent report increased likelihood siblings prospective temperament problem behaviors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816041/full |
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