A multidimensional assessment of parent-identified behavior problem toddlers

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Hyperactivity and related behavior problems are significant concerns in childhood.
• Early identification and assessment are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.
• Distinguishing typical childhood activity from clinical hyperactivity is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the identification and assessment of hyperactivity in 2- and 3-year-olds.
• To compare parent-referred children with controls on various measures.
• To determine if core hyperactivity symptoms can be identified in very young children.

Main Methods:

• Study included 68 children (2-3 years old): 46 parent-referred and 22 controls.
• Evaluations used parent reports, direct observations, and cognitive tasks.
• Measures assessed activity levels, attention, impulsivity, and aggression.

Main Results:

• Referred children were rated by parents as more active, inattentive, aggressive, and difficult to discipline.
• Observational data confirmed higher activity and inattention in referred children during tasks.
• Cognitive measures showed increased impulsivity in referred children.
• Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 88% of the sample using activity, attention, and impulsivity measures.

Conclusions:

• Core symptoms of hyperactivity are identifiable in very young children.
• Parental reports combined with objective measures effectively identify at-risk children.
• Further research is needed to determine the long-term prognostic significance of these early symptoms.