Preschool Anger, Activity Level, Inhibitory Control, and Behavior Problems: A Family Study Approach

Abstract:The temperament dimensions of anger, activity level (AL), and inhibitory control (IC) are representative of Rothbart’s negative affectivity, surgency, and effortful control factors, and are consistently related to child behavioral problems. Using parent and observer ratings of child temperament, we investigated links between anger, AL, IC, behavior problems (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], aggression, and externalizing) and maternal characteristics in 201 preschoolers and their parents. Anger, AL, and IC were associated with one another and the three behavior problems in the expected directions. Parent-rated temperament was associated with all behavioral problems across analyses. However, in more rigorous regression analyses, observer-rated AL and IC were linked with ADHD, anger was associated with aggression, and hyperactivity was linked with externalizing problems, showing some specificity. Maternal education moderated the relationship between observed anger and externalizing problems. Results indicate that multimethod assessment approaches enable a more contextualized interpretation of early child temperament and behavior-problem research.