Assessing Callous-Unemotional Traits in Preschool Children With Disruptive Behavior Problems Using Peer Reports

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which preschoolers with externalizing behavior problems (EBP) can identify behaviors indicative of callous-unemotional (CU) traits among their peers. Participants for this study included 86 preschool children (69% boys; Mage = 5.07 years) with at-risk or clinically elevated levels of EBP who were attending a summer treatment camp. Data collected from the children, their peers, and the counselors who worked at the summer camp examined preschoolers' social preference, likability, and behaviors indicative of CU. Parents and preschool teachers also reported on children's CU traits and severity of behavioral impairment, as well as school readiness. Peer nominations of CU traits showed (a) excellent factor structure as evidenced by clear CU items (e.g., "don't feel bad when they do something wrong") versus more prosocial items ("share," "cooperate"); (b) moderate construct validity when compared to counselor reports of the CU factor as well as preschool teacher reported ratings of CU traits and severity of behavioral impairment; and (c) good utility as evidenced by associations with peer and counselor rated social preference, likability, and school readiness measures as rated by both parents and preschool teachers. These findings indicate that as early as preschool, children with EBP can identify peers who engage in behaviors indicative of CU traits, which have significant implications for children's social status and overall school readiness.

Family Instability and Young Children's School Adjustment: Callousness and Negative Internal Representations as Mediators

“…For example, Graziano et al. () found that preschool children higher in callousness evidenced poorer school readiness across academic, behavioral, and social domains of adjustment. However, the predominant use of cross‐sectional designs in examining links between callousness and school adjustment problems do not authoritatively test our mediational hypotheses.…”

“…In fact, Carlson et al (2015) found that callous-unemotional behaviors mediated associations between retrospective reports of child maltreatment and concurrent risky behaviors in late adolescence. Likewise, studies have also identified associations between callousness and children's school adjustment difficulties in early (Graziano et al, 2016) and middle childhood (Ciucci, Baroncelli, Franchi, Golmaryami, & Frick, 2014;Vaughn et al, 2011). For example, Graziano et al (2016) found that preschool children higher in callousness evidenced poorer school readiness across academic, behavioral, and social domains of adjustment.…”

“…Likewise, studies have also identified associations between callousness and children's school adjustment difficulties in early (Graziano et al, 2016) and middle childhood (Ciucci, Baroncelli, Franchi, Golmaryami, & Frick, 2014;Vaughn et al, 2011). For example, Graziano et al (2016) found that preschool children higher in callousness evidenced poorer school readiness across academic, behavioral, and social domains of adjustment. However, the predominant use of cross-sectional designs in examining links between callousness and school adjustment problems do not authoritatively test our mediational hypotheses.…”

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and callous-unemotional traits as moderators of conduct problems when examining impairment in emerging adults

“…Given the importance of CU traits, the 5 th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2015) now includes a specifier to identify individuals with conduct disorder and CU traits. CU traits have been documented from early childhood (Graziano et al, 2016) into early adulthood (Byrd et al, 2013). However, little work has specifically examined the impact of CU on functioning in young adulthood, and the few existing studies have shown contrasting findings (Bartol and Miller, 2014; Byrd et al, 2013).…”

Associations between high callous–unemotional traits and quality of life across youths with non-conduct disorder diagnoses

“…In previous research, CU traits were not associated with quality of life (QoL) in a clinical sample of youths with CD [ 22 ]. Impairment in youths with CP showed either no [ 19 , 22 , 29 , 30 ] or a positive [ 15 , 25 ] relationship with CU traits. In community samples high CU traits were associated with more global impairment [ 10 , 34 , 43 ], not only in the CD subsample, but in the no CD/high CU subsample as well [ 34 ].…”