Dysregulation Profile Development in Preschoolers: Trajectories Associated with Maternal Behavior and Affect

Abstract

Objective: Children with regulatory problems are at risk for adverse outcomes and can be identified with the Dysregulation Profile (DP) on the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Research into development and risk factors of DP is scarce. We examined trajectories of trajectories and their association with maternal behaviour and affect in a predominantly clinical sample of preschoolers. Method: Preschoolers (N = 247) were followed over three assessment point (baseline, 9 and 18 months later). Age ranged from 41 to 66 months at baseline (M = 54.61, SD = 7.62). DP was based on the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form, parenting was measured with maternal self-report, and maternal affect was measured with coded videos of mother-child interactions. Trajectories of dysregulation were identified with growth mixture modelling and compared on maternal behavior and affect. Results: Three trajectories of dysregulation were identified, consisting of 60% (n = 148; stable low), 32% (n = 79; increasers), and 8% (n = 20; decreasers) of the sample. The stable low group was exposed to lower levels of physical punishment, and more positive verbal discipline than increasers. The stable low group was exposed to lower levels of negative affect compared to increasers and decreasers. Conclusions: Concluding, there is variability in the development of dysregulation, with children whose scores increase, decrease or remain stable. Trajectories differed on physical punishment, negative affect and positive verbal discipline, but not on other dimensions of parenting.