In Control: Early Precursors and Development of Self-Regulation

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to enhance knowledge concerning the early development of self-regulation, by (1) examining mean-level development, as well as early markers of self-regulation; (2) identifying family factors that might play a role in the development of self-regulation, including parental characteristics, parenting practices, and household chaos; and (3) examining problem behavior related to deficits in self-regulation in early childhood. These research questions were examined in five empirical studies utilizing four datasets. The first aim of this dissertation was to examine mean-level development, as well as to identify early markers of self-regulation. The results show that visual attention and negative reactivity in infancy predict self-regulation later in development. Longer fixations and less variation in fixation duration in infancy (10 months) predict better effortful control, but are unrelated to compliance (2.5 years). Disengagement neither predicts effortful control nor compliance. In addition, infant fussing, crying, and maternal sensitivity in infancy (6 months) do not predict self-regulation in toddlerhood (1.5 years). However, moderate amounts of infant fussing are related to enhanced self-regulation in the preschool years (4.5 years), but only for children of relatively sensitive mothers. For infants of less sensitive mothers, fussing is unrelated to later self-regulation. Crying does not predict preschool self-regulation. In the preschool years (i.e., between 2.5 and 6.5 years), parent-reported inhibitory control undergoes both conceptual changes as well as mean-level development. Specifically, inhibitory control is partial scalar invariant over time, and increases in a decelerating rate. The second aim of this dissertation was to identify family factors that might play a role in the development of self-regulation. The results show that parenting practices are related to the development of self-regulation, and that parents’ behavior towards their young children is in turn predicted by their own self-regulation and the level of chaos in their house. In infancy, sensitivity in combination with moderate amounts of fussing predict enhanced self-regulation. In toddlerhood, sensitivity and intrusiveness predict higher levels of inhibitory control, but nonintrusiveness predicts a faster development of inhibitory control. Parents’ own self-regulation and a low level of chaos in their household support parents in refraining from responding negatively towards their toddler’s noncompliance. The third aim of this dissertation was to examine problem behavior related to deficits in self-regulation in early childhood. Here, the focus was on problems that are identified with the Dysregulation Profile. In the preschool years, the Dysregulation Profile is best conceptualized as a broad syndrome of dysregulation that exists in addition to anxious/depressed, aggression, and attention problems. In addition, the Dysregulation Profile can be seen as a marker of developmental risks, as it is associated with a wide range of clinically relevant criteria, both concurrently and longitudinally. Together, the results of this dissertation demonstrate that both child, parent, and family factors contribute to the early development of self-regulation. These factors can already be assessed in infancy, toddlerhood, and the preschool years, which comes with relevant implications for prevention strategies aimed at promoting healthy self-regulation development.