The Association Between Toddlerhood Self-Control and Later Externalizing Problems

Abstract

Lower self-control is a significant correlate or predictor of a wide range of adult outcomes, and this association may be due to more general tendencies toward childhood externalizing problems. The present study examined the association between toddlerhood self-control expressed within a "don't" compliance task (at 14-36 months) and later externalizing problems (parent-reported externalizing problems from age 4 to 12 years, teacher-reported externalizing problems from age 7 to 12 years, and self-reported conduct disorder symptoms at age 17 years) in a longitudinal, genetically informative study. The slope of self-control, but not its intercept, predicted later teacher-reported, but not parent- or self-reported, externalizing problems. That is, increase in self-control during toddlerhood was associated with lower levels of later teacher-reported externalizing problems. The slope of self-control was no longer a significant predictor of teacher-reported externalizing problems after controlling for observed disregard for others, a robust predictor of externalizing problems. Thus, the hypothesis that self-control is the primary predictor of externalizing problems was not supported. Results from genetic analyses suggested that the covariance between the slope of self-control and teacher-reported externalizing problems is due to both genetic and shared environmental influences.

Investigating honesty‐humility and impulsivity as predictors of aggression in children and youth

“…Importantly, the current study demonstrates that when HH—a delinquent personality factor—is accounted for, impulsivity continues to share a bidirectional relationship with aggression among children and youth. Thus, despite recent research suggesting impulsivity is not a sufficient predictor of aggression when controlling for selfish tendencies (e.g., Rhee et al, ), this finding provides evidence to the contrary in a large sample.…”

“…Impulsivity; however, moderated the relationship between neglectful parenting at age 2 and greater aggression at age 12, 15, and 22, such that these relationships existed only in children who were high on impulsivity at a young age. Similar research from Rhee et al () examined impulsivity in toddlers and externalizing problems in childhood and adolescence. In this study, impulsivity was not associated with a parent or self‐reported aggressive behavior but was negatively associated with teacher‐report.…”

“…In particular, poor impulse control has been reliably associated with a number of problem behaviors, such as physical bullying (Farrell et al, ; Pontzer, ), across a range of age groups (Campbell, Spieker, Burchinal, & Poe, ). Nonetheless, some researchers have questioned whether impulsivity on its own is sufficient to account for aggression (Hentges et al, ) and whether other variables, such as a callous disregard for others (Rhee et al, ), also are important. For example, it has been unclear whether impulsivity and HH are independent predictors of aggression in youth, as they have not been examined simultaneously in a single study.…”

“…In this study, impulsivity was not associated with a parent or self‐reported aggressive behavior but was negatively associated with teacher‐report. This finding; however, was no longer significant when accounting for “a disregard for others” (i.e., a separate individual characteristic; Rhee et al, ), which may be conceptually similar to HH. In other words, impulsivity may be related to low HH, as both factors share strong associations with other personality traits and individual tendencies.…”

Survey dataset on the types, prevalence and causes of deviant behavior among secondary school adolescents in some selected schools in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

“…Different methodologies are available in the study of deviant (externalizing) and internalizing behavioral patterns in children and adolescents [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] . Most often standardized or structured questionnaires tailored to suit particular (the studied) demographics are used [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] . Evolving trends and behavioral patterns are often observed and made available as scientific findings.…”