Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 14, 2025
07:56
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
10.3K
Relations Between Toddler Expressive Language and Temper Tantrums in a Community Sample
Brittany L Manning1, Megan Y Roberts1,2,3, Ryne Estabrook2,3
1Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
|March 12, 2021
Summary
Toddlers with limited expressive language skills experience more frequent and severe temper tantrums. Early identification of language delays can help assess mental health risks in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Clinical observation suggests a link between toddlers' expressive language abilities and temper tantrum severity.
- Temper tantrums are a common feature of irritability and an indicator of mental health risk in early childhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between expressive vocabulary size and temper tantrum severity in toddlers.
- To determine if toddlers identified as late talkers exhibit more severe temper tantrums.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 2,001 mothers reported on their toddlers' expressive vocabulary and temper tantrum behaviors.
- Data were collected for toddlers aged 12 to 38 months.
Main Results:
- Toddlers with fewer spoken words exhibited more frequent and dysregulated temper tantrums.
- Late-talking toddlers (at 24-30 months) had a 1.96 times greater relative risk of severe tantrums compared to peers with typical language.
- The study provides the first evidence of a relationship between language development and temper tantrums in the second year of life.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between reduced expressive language and increased temper tantrum severity in toddlers.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing both language development and mental health risk for early identification and intervention of childhood disorders.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
235
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
235
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
291
A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Diagnostic Criteria and...
291
01:22Language Development
622
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
622
01:28Conduct Disorder
253
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
253
01:27Parenting Styles
303
Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
303
01:30Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals
165
The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...
165