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Sex Differences in Associations between Early Adversity, Child Temperament, and Behavior Problems
Jesse L Coe1,2, Lauren Micalizzi3, Brittney Josefson2
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
International Journal of Behavioral Development
|March 12, 2021
Summary
Early adversity impacts child behavior problems through temperament. These effects, particularly involving inhibitory control and attention, are more pronounced in boys than girls, highlighting sex-based differences in developmental pathways.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Early adversity is linked to child behavior problems.
- Child temperament may mediate the effects of adversity.
- The role of child sex in these pathways is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate indirect effects of early adversity on behavior problems via child temperament.
- To determine if these indirect effects differ by child sex.
Main Methods:
- Multimethod study with 274 preschool children and caregivers.
- Data collected via parent surveys, interviews, and child protection records.
- Multi-group path analyses conducted at two time points over 6 months.
Main Results:
- Anger mediated stress and behavior problems in the full sample.
- Inhibitory control and attention mediated stress effects in boys, not girls.
- Inhibitory control mediated maltreatment effects overall; attention mediated effects in boys only.
Conclusions:
- Early adversity influences child behavior problems through temperament, especially in boys.
- Temperament is shaped by the early environment.
- Sex-specific indirect effects of adversity on behavior problems via temperament exist.
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