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Mapping Dysregulation: Prenatal Predictors and Developmental Trajectories of Multiple Regulatory Problems in Early

Beate Helmikstøl1,2, Vibeke Moe3, Lars Smith3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Ansgar University College, Kristiansand, Norway. helmikstol@ansgarskolen.no.

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
|April 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prenatal risks predict increased child regulatory problems, including sensory sensitivity and eating issues, up to age three. These effects are more pronounced in boys, suggesting gradual unfolding of dysregulation over time.

Area of Science:

  • Child development
  • Developmental psychology
  • Maternal health

Background:

  • Regulatory problems like excessive crying, feeding, and sleeping issues are significant parental stressors.
  • Prenatal risk factors may influence a child's long-term regulatory development.
  • Understanding the trajectory of these problems is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental course of multiple regulatory problems up to age three.
  • To determine if maternal prenatal risk factors predict developmental trajectories of dysregulation from 18 months to 3 years.
  • To explore the moderating role of child sex on this association.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal community-based study (Little in Norway).
  • Sample of 748 children and their mothers.
  • Latent change score modeling to analyze developmental trajectories.

Main Results:

  • Prenatal risk factors significantly predicted an increase in dysregulation from 18 months to 3 years (β = 0.208, p < .001).
  • The association was stronger for boys than for girls.
  • Sensory sensitivity, eating problems, and negative emotionality were key contributors, while sleeping problems were unrelated.

Conclusions:

  • Early risk exposure can gradually unfold into increased child dysregulation into the preschool years.
  • Children with higher prenatal risk loads are more vulnerable to persistent or escalating regulatory problems.
  • Targeted support for families with prenatal risks may mitigate long-term dysregulation.

Keywords:
Cumulative riskDysregulationLatent changeMultiple regulatory problemsPrenatal risk

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