Types and Predictors of Young Children’s Problem Behaviors Following the Birth of a Sibling

Abstract

Objectives: To verify the predictors that affect problem behavior trajectories, this study examines how the problem behavior patterns of young children change over time before and the birth of their younger sibling, and the types of trajectories they are classifien into.Methods: The participants were 202 pregnant mothers who had a child over 18 months old. Questionnaires on the child’s problem behaviors were conducted one month before, one month after, and the three months after childbirth. A growth mixture model and logistic regression analyses were performed for classification and predictive analytics.Results: A total of three latent groups of children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors were identified: group at low risk for problem behaviors, group at potential risk for problem behaviors and group at high risk for rising problem behaviors. Logistic regression analyses revealed that children’s temperamental emotionality and sociality, mother’s warm and encouraging behaviors, and depression were significantly associated with trajectory classes of problem behaviors.Conclusion: Our results suggest that to mediate problem behaviors in young children when a younger sibling is born, a variety of supports that consider their individual characteristics and provide affectionate parenting behavior are needed.