Correlates of Toddler Behavior Problems

Background and Purpose

Many behavior problems have their origins early in life. Early identification and intervention for children who display signs of emerging behavior problems can be essential in the prevention of psychopathology. This longitudinal study explores patterns of problem behaviors in toddlers and examines maternal/family characteristics and parenting practices associated with these different patterns.

Methods

197 African-American women ages 13 through 21 were interviewed during the second trimester of pregnancy and at multiple time points through 24 months postpartum. Mothers were recruited through prenatal clinics of a major urban teaching hospital. Most were giving birth for the first time and receiving public assistance. The mothers were administered measures of depression, relationships and attachment, and family/partner conflict at the prenatal and 24-month time points. Additionally, interactions between mothers and their toddlers were videotaped at 12 and 24 months and were scored for maternal sensitivity and responsiveness. At 24 months, mothers reported on their toddlers' social-emotional problems and competencies using the Brief Infant Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA).

Results

A cluster analysis was conducted using the 24-month BITSEA items, which revealed four groups of children. The largest group (n=101) showed high levels of competence and low levels of problem behaviors. A second group (n=23) displayed high levels of internalizing behaviors, such as fear, frequent crying, and withdrawn or unhappy affect. A third group showed high levels of externalizing behaviors (n=26), including aggression and disobedience. A final group (n=39) demonstrated low to moderate levels of externalizing behaviors. An examiner's independent assessment of the children during testing provided validity to the four clusters generated from mother report data.

These four groups were differentially associated with maternal/family factors and parenting behaviors at multiple time points. Mothers of children in the internalizing and externalizing groups were significantly more depressed at the prenatal interview, with average CES-D scores above the clinical cutpoint (M=19.3 and 18.7, respectively), and expressed less comfort with emotionally close relationships. Mothers of children in the internalizing group expressed more problems with communication and attachment during the prenatal interview, while mothers of children in the externalizing group reported significantly more conflict with their own mothers and the children's fathers prenatally and at 24 months. Finally, mothers of children in both the internalizing and externalizing groups were observed to be less sensitive and responsive to their children during a variety of interactions at 12 months, and mothers in the internalizing group continued to be less sensitive and responsive at 24 months.

Implications

These findings demonstrate that most toddlers in this sample showed positive social and emotional development. However, two clusters of children exhibited higher levels of concerning behaviors. Mothers of these children displayed differential prenatal risk factors and were less sensitive and responsive towards their children at later observations. Since social workers are often primary resources for young expectant mothers, knowledge of these associated risk factors and parenting behaviors will allow them to provide early services in an effort to prevent the development of problematic behaviors in children.