How do behavior problems change over time in childhood? Evidence from the early childhood longitudinal study

Abstract

The trajectories and predictors of childhood behavior problems remain unclear, this study aims to examine this research topic using nine waves of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. A total of 1,1779 and 1,1785 children (ages 5 to 13 years) and their parents and teachers were recruited to examine the development of internalizing and externalizing problems, respectively. Results showed that internalizing problems had three developmental patterns, such as a low-increased pattern, a low-stable pattern, and a medium-decreased pattern, and externalizing problems had five developmental patterns, including a high-decreased pattern, a medium-decreased pattern, a low-high increased pattern, a low-increased pattern, and a low-stable pattern. The race, gender, family socioeconomic status, and self-control of the children predicted these trajectories. Findings suggest that changes in childhood behavior problems are heterogeneous and that individual differences should be considered when studying changes in behavior problems.