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Risk indicators: assessment of infancy predictors of pre-school behavioural maladjustment
A Sanson1, F Oberklaid, R Pedlow
1Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Infant temperament alone has a small impact on later adjustment. However, combining difficult temperament with other risk factors significantly increases the likelihood of behavioral and emotional problems in children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Predicting later child outcomes from infancy is a key concern in developmental research.
- Difficult temperament is often considered a significant predictor of future behavioral and emotional issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between infancy risk factors and behavioral/emotional adjustment at 4-5 years.
- To determine if single risk factors or combinations of factors are more predictive of later maladjustment.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study utilizing a large, representative sample of children.
- Categorical analysis approach to examine infancy risk factors (within-child, environmental, relationship).
Main Results:
- Single risk factors, including difficult temperament, showed only modest increases in later maladjustment.
- Specific combinations of infancy risk factors were associated with substantially higher rates of maladjustment.
- Evidence for cumulative effects of risk factors on child development.
Conclusions:
- Temperament's influence on later outcomes is best understood within a broader contextual framework.
- The cumulative impact of multiple risk factors is critical for predicting child behavioral and emotional adjustment.
- Intervention strategies should consider the interplay of various risk factors in infancy.
Abstract:
The prediction of later outcome from factors present in infancy has been an ongoing concern, with difficult temperament frequently being posited as one important risk factor. Using data from a longitudinal study of a large representative sample of children, and a categorical approach to analysis, a set of infancy risk factors covering within-child, environmental and relationship variables was related to behavioural and emotional adjustment at 4-5 years. Single risk factors, including difficult temperament, resulted in only modest increases in the prevalence of later maladjustment. However, certain combinations of risk factors were associated with markedly increased prevalence rates. The results indicate the cumulative effects of risk factors, and the need to consider temperament within a contextual framework.