Preschool Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Disorder of Negative Affect, Surgency, and Disagreeableness

Abstract

Objective. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is conceptualized as a disorder of negative affect and low effortful control. Yet, empirical tests of trait associations with ODD remain limited. The current study examined the relationship between temperament and personality traits and DSM-5 ODD symptom domains and related impairment in a preschool-aged sample. Method. Participants were 109 children ages 3–6 (59% male), over-recruited for ODD from the community, and their primary caregivers (87% mothers). ODD symptoms and impairment were measured using the Kiddie-Disruptive Behavior Disorder Schedule, temperament traits were measured using parent report on the Child Behavior Questionnaire and the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery, and personality traits were measured using examiner report on the California Child Q-Sort. Results. Results suggest high negative affect was associated with all three ODD symptom domains, while low agreeableness was specifically associated with the angry/irritable ODD symptom domain, and high surgency was associated with the argumentative/defiant and vindictive ODD symptom domains. Negative affect and surgency interacted with agreeableness to predict impairment, but not symptoms: low agreeableness was associated with high impairment, regardless of other trait levels, while high negative affect and high surgency predicted high impairment in the presence of high agreeableness. Conclusions. Overall, results suggest ODD is a disorder of high negative affect. Furthermore, low agreeableness is differentially associated with affective ODD symptoms, and high surgency is associated with behavioral ODD symptoms. These traits interact in complex ways to predict impairment. Therefore, negative affect, agreeableness, and surgency may be useful early markers of ODD symptoms and impairment.

Temperament Traits Mark Liability for Coexisting Psychiatric Symptoms in Children With Elevated ADHD Symptoms

“…Consistent with prior research, ODD was associated with maladaptive temperament across all three domains (Zastrow et al, 2018). Among clinical samples, upward of 60% of youth with ADHD meet criteria for coexisting ODD (Connor et al, 2010).…”

Exploring childhood temperament as a moderator of the association between adolescent sexual minority status and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems

“…Negative affect and effortful control, however, did not moderate the association between sexual minority status and later mental health. These findings may in part be developmental, as the consequences of negative affect and effortful control on internalizing and externalizing appear early in childhood (Eisenberg et al, 2009; Zastrow et al, 2018). By the time an individual reaches adolescence, the capacity of these temperament factors to further influence social relationships may be limited.…”

Temperamental Constellations and School Readiness: A MultiVariate Approach

“…However, surgency may become a risk factor for children if they cannot regulate their strong approach tendencies [ 18 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. High surgency and impulsivity in combination have been linked to externalizing behavior problems [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Children with this temperament combination may quickly become angry or aggressive if a reward is blocked, disregard rules or instructions, or struggle with reflection of their own behavior [ 18 , 27 , 31 , 40 , 41 , 42 ].…”