Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Temper modulation problems are both a hallmark of early childhood and a common mental health concern. Thus, characterizing specific behavioral manifestations of temper loss along a dimension from normative misbehaviors to clinically significant problems is an important step toward identifying clinical thresholds.
Methods
Parent-reported patterns of temper loss were delineated in a diverse community sample of preschoolers (n = 1,490). A developmentally sensitive questionnaire, the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschool Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB), was used to assess temper loss in terms of tantrum features and anger regulation. Specific aims were: (a) document the normative distribution of temper loss in preschoolers from normative misbehaviors to clinically concerning temper loss behaviors, and test for sociodemographic differences; (b) use Item Response Theory (IRT) to model a Temper Loss dimension; and (c) examine associations of temper loss and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems.
Results
Across sociodemographic subgroups, a unidimensional Temper Loss model fit the data well. Nearly all (83.7%) preschoolers had tantrums sometimes but only 8.6% had daily tantrums. Normative misbehaviors occurred more frequently than clinically concerning temper loss behaviors. Milder behaviors tended to reflect frustration in expectable contexts, whereas clinically concerning problem indicators were unpredictable, prolonged, and/or destructive. In multivariate models, Temper Loss was associated with emotional and behavioral problems.
Conclusions
Parent reports on a developmentally informed questionnaire, administered to a large and diverse sample, distinguished normative and problematic manifestations of preschool temper loss. A developmental, dimensional approach shows promise for elucidating the boundaries between normative early childhood temper loss and emergent psychopathology.
Recommended Citation
Hullsiek, Heide and Briggs-Gowan, Margaret J., "Defining the Developmental Parameters of Temper Loss in Early Childhood: Implications for Developmental Psychopathology" (2012). UCHC Articles - Research. 168.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/168
Comments
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 April 23.
Published in final edited form as: J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 November; 53(11): 1099–1108.
Published online 2012 August 29. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02595.x
PMCID: PMC3633202 NIHMSID: NIHMS446063