Profiles of disruptive behavior across early childhood: contributions of frustration reactivity, physiological regulation, and maternal behavior

Child Dev. 2008 Sep-Oct;79(5):1357-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01193.x.

Abstract

Disruptive behavior, including aggression, defiance, and temper tantrums, typically peaks in early toddlerhood and decreases by school entry; however, some children do not show this normative decline. The current study examined disruptive behavior in 318 boys and girls at 2, 4, and 5 years of age and frustration reactivity, physiological regulation, and maternal behavior in the laboratory at 2 years of age. A latent profile analysis resulted in 4 longitudinal profiles of disruptive behavior, which were differentiated by interactions between reactivity, regulation, and maternal behavior. A high profile was associated with high reactivity combined with high maternal control or low regulation combined with low maternal control. Results are discussed from a developmental psychopathology perspective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Affect*
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Frustration*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior / psychology*