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Temperament in Infancy Predicts Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior at Age 5 in Children With an
Lori-Ann R Sacrey1,2, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum1,2, Susan E Bryson3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Early childhood temperament significantly predicts later mental health issues in high-risk siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specific temperament profiles in infancy and toddlerhood are linked to internalizing and externalizing behaviors at age 5.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Behavioral Pediatrics
Background:
- Temperament differences are linked to mental health outcomes.
- Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have higher rates of mental health issues.
- The relationship between early temperament and later mental health in high-risk children is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between infant temperament and mental health at age 5 in children at high risk for ASD.
- To identify specific temperament traits and profiles that predict internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
- To explore early prevention strategies for mental health problems in siblings of children with ASD.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 178 children with increased likelihood of ASD.
- Temperament assessed using Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) and Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire-Revised (TBAQ-R).
- Mental health problems assessed using Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at age 5; analyzed via hierarchical multiple regressions.
Main Results:
- Infant temperament (IBQ) at 6 and 12 months predicted internalizing and externalizing problems at age 5.
- Toddler temperament (TBAQ-R) at 24 months significantly predicted internalizing and externalizing problems at age 5.
- Specific temperament profiles ('sticky attention', 'low-focused') predicted distinct mental health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Temperament is a trans-diagnostic risk factor for later mental health conditions.
- Understanding temperament trajectories can inform early intervention for high-risk children.
- Findings support proactive mental health support for siblings of children with ASD.
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