Predicting Longitudinal Patterns of Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Early Adolescence : A Latent Class and Latent Transition Analysis

Abstract

Using a person-centered approach, the current study investigated latent profiles for the emotional and behavioral problems of students in sixth-grade in elementary school and second grade of middle school. The aim was to explore latent transition patterns and verify the factors affecting the transitions. The participants were 1,937 adolescents who responded to the 3<sup>rd</sup> year (6<sup>th</sup> grade of elementary school; Time 1), 4<sup>th</sup> year (1<sup>st</sup> grade of middle school), and 5<sup>th</sup> year (2<sup>nd</sup> grade of middle school; Time 2) of the Korean Children Youth Panel Study. Latent profile and latent transition analyses were performed. The results were as follows: first, the latent profile of emotional and behavioral problems changed from Time 1 to Time 2. The latent groups at Time 1 were classified into low, moderate, high, and externalizing-dominant, whereas at Time 2, five groups were identified: low, moderate, high, externalizing-dominant, and withdrawal-dominant. Second, transition analyses revealed that although 22.3-57.0% of latent groups remained unchanged, there were significant changes over time between groups, as a new group (‘withdrawal-dominant’) emerged in Time 2. Third, different factors influenced the latent profile transition of emotional and behavioral problems depending on the transition pattern. Higher levels of self-esteem, better relationships with peers and teachers, and lower levels of parental inconsistency meant emotional and behavioral problems had not worsened at Time 2. The results suggest that early interventions are needed during the transition from childhood to early adolescence.