ABSTRACT
Conduct problems (CP) in childhood and adolescence have a significant impact on the individual, family, and community. To improve treatment for CP, there is a need to improve the understanding of the developmental pathways leading to CP in boys and girls. Prior research has linked the child's fearlessness and callous-unemotional (CU) traits, as well as experiences of parental warmth and punitive parenting, to CP. However, few studies have tested the interplay of these factors in contributing to future CP development. The present study aimed to test the InterFear model, which suggests that fearlessness in early childhood leads to CP through an indirect pathway involving low positive parenting, high negative/punitive parenting, and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. The sample included 2467 Spanish children (48.1% girls; Mage = 4.25; SD = 0.91), followed up across a five-year period. Besides a direct association between fearlessness in early childhood and future CP, the results found an indirect pathway whereby fearlessness reduces positive parenting and increases punitive parenting, which contributes to the development of CU traits and sets the stage for CP in later childhood. The specific indirect effect from fearlessness to CP via CU traits accounted for most of the variance, suggesting the existence of a temperamental pathway independent of parental variables. Further, two additional indirect pathways, exclusive of fearlessness, were identified, which started with low parental warmth and positive parenting, leading to CP via CU traits. These findings support the InterFear model, demonstrating multiple pathways to CP with the involvement of fearlessness, parenting practices, and CU traits. This model might play a pivotal role in the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies for CP.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of conduct problems in children, and their social and health impact, little is known about gender differences in their characteristics, determinants and implications. This three-year longitudinal study explored the diversity of individual trait configurations in children with conduct problems, assessing whether 1) the same profiles can be identified in boys and girls and, 2) the predictors and outcomes of these profiles are invariant across genders. METHOD: A multigroup analysis of latent profiles based on temperamental and psychopathic traits was performed on a sample of 401 young children (50.87% girls) with high scores in conduct problems. RESULTS: Both the number of profiles and the means and variances of compositional variables were similar across genders, but the distributions were different. Four profiles were identified, and girls belonged to the least problematic group more frequently. While the predictors were invariant across genders, outcomes were not. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the literature on heterogeneity in conduct problems by identifying specific constellations of traits in both boys and girls and shows the importance of considering gender in understanding the progression of conduct problems.
Subject(s)
Problem Behavior , Temperament , Child , Humans , Female , Male , Child, Preschool , Sex Factors , Longitudinal StudiesABSTRACT
Background: Despite the high prevalence of conduct problems in children, and their social and health impact, little is known about gender differences in their characteristics, determinants and implications. This three-year longitudinal study explored the diversity of individual trait configurations in children with conduct problems, assessing whether 1) the same profiles can be identified in boys and girls and, 2) the predictors and outcomes of these profiles are invariant across genders. Method: A multigroup analysis of latent profiles based on temperamental and psychopathic traits was performed on a sample of 401 young children (50.87% girls) with high scores in conduct problems. Results: Both the number of profiles and the means and variances of compositional variables were similar across genders, but the distributions were different. Four profiles were identified, and girls belonged to the least problematic group more frequently. While the predictors were invariant across genders, outcomes were not. Conclusions: This study contributes to the literature on heterogeneity in conduct problems by identifying specific constellations of traits in both boys and girls and shows the importance of considering gender in understanding the progression of conduct problems.(AU)
Antecedentes: Pese a la alta prevalencia de los problemas de conducta en niños y de su relevancia sociosanitaria, se sabe poco sobre las diferencias de género en sus características, determinantes e implicaciones. Este estudio longitudinal de tres años explora la diversidad de configuraciones de rasgos individuales en niños con problemas de conducta, evaluando 1) si pueden identificarse los mismos perfiles en niños y niñas y, 2) si los predictores y consecuencias de estos perfiles permanecen invariantes entre géneros. Método: Se realizó un análisis multigrupo de perfiles latentes basados en rasgos temperamentales y psicopáticos en 401 participantes (50,87% niñas) con altos problemas de conducta. Resultados: El número de perfiles y las medias y varianzas de las variables composicionales fueron similares entre géneros, pero las distribuciones fueron diferentes. Se identificaron cuatro perfiles, y las niñas pertenecían con mayor frecuencia al grupo menos problemático. Mientras que los predictores permanecieron invariables entre géneros, las consecuencias de dichos perfiles no. Conclusiones: Este estudio contribuye a la literatura sobre la heterogeneidad en los problemas de conducta mediante la identificación de constelaciones específicas de rasgos en niños y en niñas, y muestra la relevancia de atender al género para entender el desarrollo de los problemas de conducta.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Child Behavior , Psychology, Child , Sex Characteristics , Temperament , Antisocial Personality Disorder , Longitudinal Studies , Psychology , Sexism , Gender IdentityABSTRACT
Conduct problems (CP) constitute a major field for child clinical psychology, in terms of not only prevalence, but also developmental, social, andclinical relevance. This study carried out an umbrella review of meta-analyses on the efficacy of treatment/indicated prevention of child CP (meanage range up to 12 years). Following a registered protocol, several databases (i.e., Web of Science, PsycINFO, PROSPERO, and The CochraneLibrary) were searched for meta-analyses published from January 2002 to March 2022. Nine meta-analytic publications met the required criteria, andthe main characteristics and findings of the studies were systematically described. Weighted effect sizes (ESs) were calculated through RStudioprogram. Analyses of heterogeneity, publication bias, quality (AMSTAR-2), and credibility were also conducted. Results indicate that parent traininghas been the most studied intervention, with a weighted ES of d = -0.49 (95% CI -.67 to -.32). The reviewed studies identified several moderatorsfor the efficacy of parent training, including individual (severity of CP), family (financial disadvantage), and intervention (delivery format) characteristics. Results from child-centered play therapy were also analyzed, d = -.34 (95% CI -.40 to -.28), but the reduced number of meta-analyses andthe weakness detected by quality assessment suggest the need of cautiously considering the pooled effects. In general, evidence seems to besuggestive of the efficacy of treatment of CP, particularly for parent training. Nevertheless, efficacy seems to be moderate, heterogeneity indexesare high, and quality assessments of meta-analyses are often suboptimal. This study suggests several avenues to strengthen knowledge in this field. (AU)
Los problemas de conducta (PC) son un foco prioritario de atención en la psicología clínica infantil. Este estudio presenta una revisión umbrella de meta-análisis sobre la eficacia del tratamiento/prevención indicada de los PC infantiles (rango de edad media hasta 12 años). Siguiendo un protocoloregistrado, se buscaron meta-análisis (enero 2002 a marzo 2022) en Web of Science, PsycINFO, PROSPERO y The Cochrane Library. Nuevemeta-análisis cumplieron con los criterios requeridos y sus características y hallazgos fueron descritos sistemáticamente; además, con RStudiose calcularon los tamaños del efecto (TEs) ponderados. Se realizaron análisis de heterogeneidad, sesgo de publicación, calidad (AMSTAR-2) ycredibilidad. El entrenamiento parental fue la intervención más estudiada, con un TE medio ponderado de d = -.49 (IC del 95%: -.67 a -.32), y seidentificaron diversos moderadores de eficacia, incluyendo características individuales (gravedad de los PC), familiares (desventaja económica) yde intervención (formato de administración). También se analizaron los resultados de la terapia de juego centrada en el niño, d = -.34 (IC del 95%:-.40 a -.28), pero el reducido número de meta-análisis y la debilidad detectada por la evaluación de la calidad sugieren la necesidad de considerarcon cautela los efectos agrupados. En general, la evidencia es sugestiva de eficacia del tratamiento de los PC, específicamente del entrenamientoparental. No obstante, la eficacia parece ser moderada, los índices de heterogeneidad elevados y las evaluaciones de calidad de los meta-análisisno suelen ser óptimas. Este estudio sugiere varias vías para reforzar el conocimiento en este campo. (AU)
