Activity Sociability Research Articles

Timing of Violence Exposure and Girls' Temperament Stability From Childhood to Adolescence.

Individual differences in temperament (e.g., negative emotionality) are robust early predictors of emotional and behavioral health. Although temperament is often conceptualized as relatively stable across the lifespan, evidence suggests that it may change over time as a function of social context. Extant studies have been limited by cross-sectional or short-term longitudinal designs that have precluded tests of stability as well as factors that may influence stability across developmental periods. In addition, few studies have tested the impact of social contexts that are common for children living in urban and under-resourced environments, such as exposure to community violence. In the present study we hypothesized that levels of negative emotionality, activity, and shyness would decrease across development from childhood to mid-adolescence as a function of early exposure to violence in the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a community study of girls enriched for families living in low-resourced neighborhoods. Temperament was assessed by parent- and teacher-report on the Emotionality Activity Sociability Shyness Temperament Survey in childhood (5-8-years-old), early-adolescence (11-years-old), and mid-adolescence (15-years-old). Violence exposure (e.g., victim of or witness to violent crime, exposure to domestic violence) was assessed annually via child and parent report. Results showed that on average, combined caregiver and teacher reports of negative emotionality and activity level exhibited small but significant reductions from childhood to adolescence, whereas shyness remained stable. Violence exposure in early adolescence predicted increases in negative emotionality and shyness by mid-adolescence. Violence exposure was not associated with stability of activity level. Our findings suggest that exposure to violence, particularly in early adolescence, amplifies individual differences in shyness and negative emotionality, underlying an important pathway of risk for developmental psychopathology.

Prenatal exposure to air pollution and childhood internalizing problems: roles of shyness and anterior cingulate cortex activity.

Prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk for psychiatric disorders characterized by internalizing problems. In this study, we examined the roles of shyness and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity in the association between prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and children's internalizing problems at 7-9 years old. Participants include 53 children (31 girls, 22 boys). Personal air monitoring was conducted over 48 continuous hours during the third trimester of pregnancy to measure 8 PAHs. Mothers reported children's shyness (Emotionality Activity Sociability Temperament Survey) at age 5 and internalizing problems (Child Behavior Checklist) at ages 7-9. ACC activity was measured by fMRI during the Simon Spatial Incompatibility task at ages 7-9. Shyness mediated the association between prenatal PAH exposure and internalizing problems. Higher prenatal PAH exposure predicted increased shyness, which in turn predicted greater internalizing problems. Moreover, left ACC activity during the Simon task moderated the association between prenatal PAH exposure and internalizing problems. Prenatal PAH exposure predicted increased risk for internalizing problems only when children showed heightened left ACC activity during the resolution of cognitive conflict. Our study innovatively synthesizes the fields of developmental psychology and environmental health science to offer new insights into the risk factors for anxiety disorders. Facilitating the development of healthy reactive and regulatory processes may improve the developmental outcomes for children highly exposed to air pollution.

Influence of Child's Temperament on Behaviour Management Problems in the Dental Office: A Literature Review.

A child's temperament could have an influence on his/her behaviour in the dental environment. This review aims to present the main temperament surveys and their clinical use and to discuss the relationship between certain temperament dimensions and Dental Behaviour Management Problems (DBMP). A literature search was conducted in Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library and Cochrane library electronic databases for publications, up to June 2022, investigating the link between child's temperament and DBMP. From 733 potentially eligible studies, 12 were included in qualitative synthesis. According to studies using the Child Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) scale, the most impactful dimensions are activity, extraversion and surgency, high-intensity pleasure and attention control. For those using the Emotionality-Activity-Sociability (EAS) scale, emotionality and shyness have a statistically significant positive linear correlation with dental anxiety and DBMP. It has yet to be determined whether the use and interpretation of these questionnaires can be carried out in a daily clinical situation as an aid to sharpen the indications for the several levels of sedation.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Personality and Temperamental Characteristics

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynaecological/endocrine disorder that affects 5%–10% of women of reproductive age. Its association with psychiatric conditions is well known. This study aimed to evaluate personality, temperamental, and stress-related characteristics among PCOS patients by comparing them with a control group. We found that PCOS patients presented more pronounced features of type D personality and had higher NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO FFI) scores on neuroticism and lower NEO FFI scores on openness to experience and conscientiousness. On the Polish version of the Emotionality Activity Sociability Temperament Survey (EAS-D), PCOS patients reported higher emotionality-fear and lower activity than controls. The PCOS group also had higher scores on state anxiety and trait anxiety, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Distressed Personality Scale (DS-14) questionnaires. These findings underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the care of PCOS patients.

Fathers\u2019 Mental Health and Children\u2019s Aggressive Behaviour A Study Based on Data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

The aim of the study was to examine the association between fathers’ prenatal psychological distress and children’s aggressive behaviour in terms of hitting others, and how children’s age, gender and temperament affect this association. The study is based on data from 20,155 fathers and mothers from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Fathers and mothers completed questionnaires at 17 or 18 weeks of gestation and mothers at children’s age 18 months, and 3 and 5 years. Fathers’ prenatal psychological distress was assessed by the 5-item Symptom Checklist (SCL-5), and children’s temperament by 12 items from the Emotionality Activity Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey. Increasing prenatal psychological distress in fathers was associated with an increase of hitting from 18 months to 3 years of age in boys. Children’s temperament did not affect the association between fathers’ prenatal psychological distress and children’s aggressive behaviour.

Cuerpo sexualidad y adolescencia: continuidades y rupturas en instituciones públicas y privadas del departamento del Meta: apuntes para pensar el cuerpo la sexualidad y la adolescencia en la escuela

Este proyecto de investigación, pretende establecer en una primera fase cómo los jóvenes adolescentes describen su sexualidad a través de sus cuerpos. Para ello fue necesario, abordar por un lado como categorías conceptuales los conceptos de cuerpo y educación sexual. En segundo lugar, se abordaron los conceptos de jóvenes y sexualidad ya que se encuentran relacionados con la etapa de vida en que se encuentran los jóvenes adolescentes, aproximadamente entre los 15 y 19 años, los cuales pertenecen a un entorno familiar, chicos que asisten a la escuela de manera permanente, que tienen iniciado una vida sexual (noviazgo) y que por último mantienen una sociabilidad activa entre la escuela, la familia y los espacios sociales cotidianos. Para tales efectos, se asumió un enfoque cualitativo en vista de su carácter descriptivo, todas estas manifestaciones serán inicialmente descritas a través de cuestionarios/encuesta. (Jones, 2010). A su vez los resultados de este proyecto permitirán aportar indicios para describir como conciben la sexualidad los jóvenes a través de sus cuerpos en las instituciones educativas de los municipios de Villavicencio, Acacias, Granada, Puerto. Gaitán y Restrepo. Lo que permitirá tener un trabajo exploratorio para continuar con la segunda fase de la investigación de carácter mucho más comprensivo.

Clinical Features of Children With Autism Who Passed 18-Month Screening.

We compared sex-stratified developmental and temperamental profiles at 18 months in children screening negative for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) but later receiving diagnoses of ASD (false-negative group) versus those without later ASD diagnoses (true-negative group). We included 68 197 screen-negative cases from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (49.1% girls). Children were screened by using the 6 critical items of the M-CHAT at 18 months. Groups were compared on domains of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Emotionality Activity Sociability Temperament Survey. Despite passing M-CHAT screening at 18 months, children in the false-negative group exhibited delays in social, communication, and motor skills compared with the true-negative group. Differences were more pronounced in girls. However, with regard to shyness, boys in the false-negative group were rated as more shy than their true-negative counterparts, but girls in the false-negative group were rated as less shy than their counterparts in the true-negative group. This is the first study to reveal that children who pass M-CHAT screening at 18 months and are later diagnosed with ASD exhibit delays in core social and communication areas as well as fine motor skills at 18 months. Differences appeared to be more pronounced in girls. With these findings, we underscore the need to enhance the understanding of early markers of ASD in boys and girls, as well as factors affecting parental report on early delays and abnormalities, to improve the sensitivity of screening instruments.

Are we assessing temperament appropriately? The Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity (EASI) Temperament Scale: A systematic psychometric review.

Researchers have dedicated decades to the study of temperament; nevertheless, a single definition has yet to be outlined and several theories with varying numbers of traits continue to coexist (Conture, Kelly, & Walden, 2013). Researchers generally agree that temperament contributes to individual differences, with a common thread among the many definitions of temperament being that traits remain consistent across situations and moderately stable over time (Conture et al., 2013). Given the variability in conceptualizations of temperament, various measures, both self- and parent-report, have been developed; for example, the Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity Scale-III (EASI-III; Buss & Plomin, 1975); Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory (CCTI; Rowe & Plomin, 1977); Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ; Carey & McDevitt, 1978); Dimensions of Temperament Survey (Lerner, Palermo, Spiro, & Nesselroade, 1982); Toddler Temperament Questionnaire (TTQ; Fullard, McDevitt, & Carey, 1984); Children's Behaviour Questionnaire (Rothbart, Ahadi, Hershey, & Fisher, 2001); Infant Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R; Gartstein & Rothbart, 2003). However, in this article we have chosen to focus on one of the most widely used parent-rated measures of temperament: the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity Scale (EASI; Buss, Plomin, & Willerman, 1973) and its iteration, the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Shyness Temperament Survey (EAS; Buss & Plomin, 1984). Although several existing measures of temperament are appropriate for adults (i.e., EASI-III), infants (RITQ and IBQ-R), or young children (TTQ), the EASI and EAS are of the few measures of temperament designed specifically for children (originally ages 1-9 years). The EASI is an often-used measure of child temperament in the area of childhood preoperative anxiety research (e.g., Finley, Stewart, Buffett-Jerrott, Wright, & Millington, 2006; Fortier, Del Rosario, Martin, & Kain, 2010; Kain, Mayes, Caldwell-Andrews, Karas, & McClain, 2006; Kain et al., 1998; Kain, Mayes, Weisman, & Hofstadter, 2000; Wright, Stewart, & Finley, 2013), although the psychometric properties have not always been acceptable (noted specifically by Finley et al., 2006 and Wright, Wright et al., 2013). The measure (and its iteration) continues to be used without modification and has not been reviewed systematically.Development of EASI and EASEASIThe EASI was developed as a parent-rated measure of child temperament; however, there are parallel teacher-report and self- report versions as well (Buss & Plomin, 1984). The EASI is comprised of 20 parent-rated items, with five items on each of the four temperament subscales. Each item is rated on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). After reverse-scoring one item from each scale, scores are summed and divided by five, resulting in four subscales (Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity) with a possible score range of 5 to 25 (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Emotionality varies from an almost stoic lack of reaction to intense or out of control emotional reactions. Examples of high emotionality in children are extreme crying, tantrums, difficulty being soothed, and a low threshold for aversive stimuli (Buss & Plomin, 1975; Goldsmith et al., 1987). Activity refers to total energy output (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Individuals vary from lethargy to almost hypomanic energetic Spelling: behaviour (Goldsmith et al., 1987). The active person is typically busy and in a hurry (Buss & Plomin, 1975). Sociability is defined as the preference for being with others rather than being alone. Sociable individuals seek to share activities, receive attention from others, and engage in social interaction (Goldsmith et al., 1987). Impulsivity involves the tendency to respond quickly rather than inhibiting one's response or planning before acting (Buss & Plomin, 1975). …

Supplemental Material for Are We Assessing Temperament Appropriately? The Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity (EASI) Temperament Scale: A Systematic Psychometric Review

Supplemental Material for Are We Assessing Temperament Appropriately? The Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity (EASI) Temperament Scale: A Systematic Psychometric Review

Early childhood psychological factors and risk for bedwetting at school age in a UK cohort.

There is evidence for a link between psychological factors and bedwetting, but the direction of this association is unclear. Using data on 8769 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we examined whether difficult temperament (Toddler Temperament Scale at 24 months; Emotionality Activity Sociability Questionnaire at 38 months) and psychological problems (Revised Rutter Parent Scale for Preschool Children at 42 months) are linked to bedwetting at school age. We examined the association between these risk factors and different patterns of bedwetting from 4 to 9 years using multinomial regression. Difficult temperament and psychological problems in early childhood were associated with increased odds of bedwetting at 4–9 years. The strongest associations were most often found for the pattern of bedwetting that was both frequent (at least twice a week) and persistent (up to age 9) e.g. the temperament traits of ‘adaptability’ and ‘mood’ were associated with a 33 % increase (95 % confidence interval = 1.14–1.55) and a 27 % increase (1.10–1.47) respectively in the odds of persistent and frequent bedwetting per one standard deviation increase in risk score. Early behaviour problems (e.g. conduct problems [1.43 (1.25, 1.63)] and hyperactivity [1.29 (1.11, 1.50), p < 0.001]) were also associated with frequent and persistent bedwetting, but there was less evidence that early emotional difficulties were risk factors for bedwetting. Adjustment for confounders did not alter these conclusions. The presence of difficult temperament and behaviour problems in early childhood might help to identify children who will continue to experience bedwetting at school age.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00787-015-0756-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Temperament and depressive symptoms: What is the direction of the association?

BackgroundTemperament characteristics have been suggested to be associated with mental health outcomes, especially depression, but the direction of the association is unknown. In this study, we tested whether temperament characteristics, as defined by the Buss–Plomin adulthood emotionality–activity–sociability (EAS) temperament model, predict depressive symptoms or whether depressive symptoms predict changes in temperament characteristics. MethodsParticipants comprised a population-based sample of 719 men and 1020 women from the Young Finns study aged 20–35 years at baseline in 1997 and who responded to repeated surveys of temperament and depressive symptoms in four study phases from 1997 to 2012. The associations were tested using linear regression models, repeated cross-lagged structural equation models, parallel latent growth curve models and two-dimensional continuous-time state space model (Exact Discrete Model). ResultsBoth low sociability (β=−0.12, p<0.001) and high negative emotionality (β=0.34, p<0.001) predicted subsequent increased depressive symptoms, whereas earlier depressive symptoms predicted increased negative emotionality (β=0.50, p<0.001), but not low sociability. LimitationsThe depressive symptoms scale applied may not be used for measuring clinically recognized depression. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the direction of the association is from low sociability to depressive symptoms rather than the reverse, but the association between negative emotionality and depressive symptoms seems to be reciprocal.

Association between early temperament and depression at 18 years.

Early childhood temperament, particularly negative emotionality (high tendency to show distress), may be a risk factor for subsequent depression. Using data from a large UK cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), we examined the association between temperament on the Emotionality Activity Sociability Questionnaire at age 6 and ICD-10 depression at 18. Results were adjusted for a range of confounders. Children with high emotionality scores at age 6 had a 20% (7-36%) increase in the odds of being diagnosed with depression at age 18. Depression at 18 years has an early developmental diathesis, which means we may be able to identify children at risk of developing depression in young adulthood.

Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity (EASI) Survey: Psychometric Properties and Assessment Biases of the Japanese Version

Background: The EASI Survey, a 20-item parent report, was one of the first instruments developed to measure children’s temperament. Methods: We performed an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the EASI items in a randomly halved population of Japanese fathers (n = 237) and mothers (n = 412) of children under four years of age. The factor structure was cross-validated by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Then, parents’ assessments of each temperament were regressed on the other parents’ assessments and then on a variety of intrapersonal and interpersonal variables related to the assessor parents. Results: An EFA yielded a two-factor structure but a four-factor structure according to the original report showed better fit with the data. The new four-factor model (excluding items with low factor loadings) showed in a CFA acceptable goodness-of-fit with the data. This four subscales showed moderate internal consistency. Parental assessment of the EASI subscales was explainable by the assessment rated by the other parent. After controlling it, parents with depression, anger, and less caring attitudes were more likely to rate their child’s Emotionality and Impulsivity higher than their partners. Conclusions: The EASI Survey may be applicable to a Japanese non-clinical child population.

Dimensional psychopathology in preschool offspring of parents with bipolar disorder

The purpose of this study is to compare the dimensional psychopathology, as ascertained by parental report, in preschool offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BP) and offspring of community control parents. 122 preschool offspring (mean age 3.3 years) of 84 parents with BP, with 102 offspring of 65 control parents (36 healthy, 29 with non-BP psychopathology), were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the CBCL-Dysregulation Profile (CBCL-DP), the Early Childhood Inventory (ECI-4), and the Emotionality Activity Sociability (EAS) survey. Teachers' Report Forms (TRF) were available for 51 preschoolers. After adjusting for confounders, offspring of parents with BP showed higher scores in the CBCL total, externalizing, somatic, sleep, aggressive, and CBCL-DP subscales; the ECI-4 sleep problem scale; and the EAS total and emotionality scale. The proportion of offspring with CBCL T-scores ≥ 2 SD above the norm was significantly higher on most CBCL subscales and the CBCL-DP in offspring of parents with BP compared to offspring of controls even after excluding offspring with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or oppositional defiant disorder. Compared to offspring of parents with BP-I, offspring of parents with BP-II showed significantly higher scores in total and most CBCL subscales, the ECI-4 anxiety and sleep scales and the EAS emotionality scale. For both groups of parents, there were significant correlations between CBCL and TRF scores (r = .32-.38, p-values ≤.02). Independent of categorical axis-I psychopathology and other demographic or clinical factors in both biological parents, preschool offspring of parents with BP have significantly greater aggression, mood dysregulation, sleep disturbances, and somatic complaints compared to offspring of control parents. Interventions to target these symptoms are warranted.

The Emotionality Activity Sociability Temperament Survey: Factor analysis and temporal stability in a longitudinal cohort

We investigated Buss and Plomin’s Emotionality Activity Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey for Children, used to assess temperament. Temperament is believed to comprise stable traits that change little over time. We examined stability of EAS temperament in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, in which 7429 mothers completed the EAS when their children were 3, 5 and 6years old. Factor analysis was conducted at each time point, and stability over time was assessed using correlation and mixed effects regression modelling, accounting for differences within and between individuals. A four-factor model provided the best fit, with 19–20 of the 20 items loading onto the dimensions predicted by Buss and Plomin. Test–retest correlations ranged from 0.52–0.64 (3–5years), 0.59–0.74 (5–6years) and 0.46–0.58 (3–6years). Mixed effects regression modelling suggested good stability over time: differences between, rather than within, individuals accounted for between 69% and 82% of the variance. This study demonstrates the stability of temperament over time, a vital pre-requisite to investigating childhood temperament as a predictor of outcomes.

Do ADHD Children With and Without Child Behavior Checklist–Dysregulation Profile Have Different Clinical Characteristics, Cognitive Features, and Treatment Outcomes?

Objective: The Child Behavior Checklist–Dysregulation Profile (CBCL-DP), characterized by elevated scores on the “Attention Problems,” “Aggressive Behavior,” and “Anxious/Depressed” scales in the CBCL, has been associated with later severe psychopathology. In a sample of children with ADHD, this study sought to further explore the clinical characteristics, the response to methylphenidate medication, and the cognitive features of ADHD children with CBCL-DP. Method: The sample consisted of 173 ADHD outpatients (age = 10.9 ± 2.81) assessed using symptom severity scales, personality questionnaires (Emotionality Activity Sociability [EAS] and Junior Temperament and Character Inventory [JTCI]), and neuropsychological tests. A subsample of 136 participants was reassessed after optimal adjustment of methylphenidate dosage. Results and Conclusion: Variables that were independently associated with CBCL-DP were clinical severity (ADHD Rating Scale [ADHD-RS]), internalized disorders, high emotionality (EAS), and low self-directedness (JTCI). CBCL-DP was associated neither with poorer response to methylphenidate nor with more side effects. There were no differences in cognitive performances between participants with and without CBCL-DP.

Cognitive training via interactive television: drivers, barriers and potential users

This paper describes research to investigate the attitudinal and motivational factors that might facilitate or inhibit the uptake and use of cognitive training (CT) applications via interactive television (iTV) by both young and older people and to explore the profiles of potential users of such applications. A questionnaire was designed and distributed as part of the Vital Mind (VM) project. Data from a sample of 848 young and older people were collected and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). PCA of 41 attitude statements identified six components/factors. Three factors measured potential drivers to uptake and use of iTV-based CT applications (`active wellbeing', `health concern' and `technophilia') and two measured potential barriers (`unprogressiveness' and `telly-negativity'). A sixth factor (`active sociability') could act as either a driver or barrier, depending on how socially oriented are different CT applications. CA of the factors and age data revealed seven different profiles of potential users of CT through iTV. Three of the clusters were predominantly older (labelled Cultured-Conservatives, Digital-Immigrants and Telly-Fans), three were younger (labelled Healthy-Strivers, Digital-Natives and Net-Generation) and one was middle-aged (labelled Busy-Interactors). Reported media use and activity (mental, physical and social) were consistent with the attitude profiles of the clusters. The appeal of iTV-based CT was generally high, with Digital-Natives and Digital-Immigrants indicating the most interest. This research provides evidence for the key attitudinal dimensions predictive of likely adoption and use of iTV-based CT, and a refined understanding of target younger and older user markets.

Inhalation aromatherapy in children and adolescents undergoing stem cell infusion: results of a placebo‐controlled double‐blind trial

Though often lifesaving, stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a period of great distress for both child and parent. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study evaluating the effect of the respiratory administration of bergamot essential oil on the anxiety, nausea, and pain of 37 pediatric patients with malignant and non-malignant disorders undergoing stem cell infusion and their parents. Patients were assessed at the time of recruitment, prior to infusion, upon infusion completion, and one hour post-infusion using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for parents and the STAIC, Children's Behavioral Style Scale (CBSS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and nausea, and the Emotionality Activity Sociability and Impulsivity instrument (EASI) for children. Children and adolescents in the treatment group experienced greater anxiety (p = 0.05) and nausea (p = 0.03) one hour post-infusion. Reported pain in both groups was no longer significant one hour post-infusion. Parental anxiety declined in both groups but did not reach statistical significance. Child's monitoring coping style was significantly predictive of transitory anxiety post-infusion (p = 0.01). Although this trial did not report a benefit of inhalation aromatherapy for reducing anxiety, nausea, or pain when added to standard supportive care, it provides the first experimental rather than descriptive report on testing a single therapeutic essential oil among children and adolescents undergoing stem cell infusion. Future research may consider exploring the cutaneous application of essential oil through massage or other psychoeducational counseling interventions among parents with elevated anxiety and patients with greater information seeking coping styles during SCT.

Adulthood EAS-temperament and carotid artery intima-media thickness: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study

We examined the association between adulthood emotionality–activity–sociability temperament scale and preclinical atherosclerosis and, whether this association is mediated by cardiovascular risk factors (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and body-mass index (BMI)). The participants were a nationally representative sample of 537 men and 811 women from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study aged 15–30 years at the baseline in 1992 and aged 24–39 years at the follow-up in 2001. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound scans of the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD). In men, there was an association between the temperament dimension activity and IMT (β = 0.08, p = 0.036) which was partially mediated by BMI (β decreased from 0.08 to 0.05; p-value of Sobel test = 0.002). However, after correction for multiple comparisons the association between IMT and the temperament dimension activity in men was only of borderline significance. In women, there were no associations between temperament and IMT or FMD. These results suggest that a highly active temperament may contribute to early signs of atherosclerosis in men and that body mass may mediate this association.

Whatʼs in a Disruptive Disorder? Temperamental Antecedents of Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is classified as a disruptive disorder, but shows a wide range of associations with other psychopathology, including internalizing problems. The reasons for these associations are unclear. Here we test the hypothesis that two distinct early temperamental precursors-emotionality and activity-underlie ODD and differentially predict its comorbidities. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) community-based representative sample was used. Temperamental dimensions at the age of 38 months were derived through exploratory factor analysis from the Emotionality Activity Sociability (EAS) scale and used in logistic regression predicting to psychiatric diagnoses at the age of 91 months. Pure ODD was predicted by both emotionality (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.34, CI = 1.09 to 1.66) and activity (RRR = 1.39, CI = 1.07 to 1.81). The strongest predictions were from early temperament to ODD with comorbidity: from emotionality to ODD plus internalizing disorders (RRR = 3.33, CI = 2.14 to 5.19), and from activity to ODD plus ADHD (RRR = 3.24, CI = 1.48 to 7.11). Temperamental activity was a predictor of the hyperactive-impulsive and combined types of ADHD but not of the inattentive type. Classified as a disruptive disorder, ODD is predicted by early emotion dysregulation as well as by high levels of temperamental activity. The findings of this study suggest that early emotionality and activity differentially contribute to the phenotype of ODD in middle childhood and may determine its range of co-occurrence with other psychopathology. Taking into account the heterogeneous origins of childhood oppositionality may help to refine clinical approaches to ODD.