Abstract
This study examined the stability of internalizing and externalizing problems from age 1.5 to 6 years, while taking into account developmental changes in the presentation of problems. The study comprised a population-based cohort of 7,206 children (50.4 % boys). At ages 1.5, 3, and 6 years, mothers reported on problem behavior using the Child Behavior Checklist/1.5-5 (CBCL/1.5-5). At each age we performed latent profile analysis on the CBCL/1.5-5 scales. Latent transition analysis (LTA) was applied to study the stability of problem behavior. Profiles of problem behavior varied across ages. At each age, 82–87 % of the children did not have problems whereas approximately 2 % showed a profile of co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems. This profile was more severe (with higher scores) at 6 years than at earlier ages. A predominantly internalizing profile only emerged at 6 years, while a profile with externalizing problems and emotional reactivity was present at each age. LTA showed that, based on profiles at 1.5 and 3 years, it was difficult to predict the type of profile at 6 years. Children with a profile of co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems early in life were most likely to show problem behavior at 6 years. This study shows that the presentation of problem behavior changes across the preschool period and that heterotypic continuity of problems is very common among preschoolers. Children with co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems were most likely to show persisting problems. The use of evidence-based treatment for these young children may prevent psychiatric problems across the life course.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10802-015-9993-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
This study examined the stability of internalizing and externalizing problems from age 1.5 to 6 years, while taking into account developmental changes in the presentation of problems
We examined profiles of problem behavior at ages 1.5 and 3 using latent profile analysis (LPA) on the CBCL/1.5-5 completed by mothers
At ages 1.5 and 3 the BIC and the BLRT indicated that five profiles resulted in better model fit than four profiles
Summary
This study examined the stability of internalizing and externalizing problems from age 1.5 to 6 years, while taking into account developmental changes in the presentation of problems. Children with a profile of co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems early in life were most likely to show problem behavior at 6 years. Mesman et al (2001) found that internalizing and externalizing problems at ages 2–3 years predicted the same type of problems at ages 10–11 years These results show homotypic stability, which is defined as the continuity of some phenomenon over time in a form that changes relatively little (Angold et al 1999). Association studies and latent class growth models have been highly informative on our understanding of the stability of problems across the preschool period and beyond They give limited information at the level of the individual child. They found continuity across diagnoses: for example children meeting the criteria for an anxiety disorder at age 3 years were more likely to meet the criteria for depression and oppositional defiant disorder at age 6 years
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