Trajectories of early childhood family instability and the development of externalizing behaviors from middle childhood to adolescence: A prospective study of at‐risk families

This study examined associations between trajectories of family instability across early childhood and trajectories of externalizing behaviors from middle childhood to adolescence. Growth mixture models were fit to annual caregiver reports of instability from child ages 2–5 (N = 731; 49% girls, 50%...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child development 2022-05, Vol.93 (3), p.e266-e281
Main Authors: Womack, Sean R., Wilson, Melvin N., Tong, Xin, Lemery‐Chalfant, Kathryn, Shaw, Daniel S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adolescent girls
Adolescents
Caregivers
Child
Child Behavior Disorders
Child Development
Child, Preschool
Childhood
Children
Externalizing behaviour
Externalizing problems
Family
Female
Humans
Instability
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental depression
Prospective Studies
Social development
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Summary:This study examined associations between trajectories of family instability across early childhood and trajectories of externalizing behaviors from middle childhood to adolescence. Growth mixture models were fit to annual caregiver reports of instability from child ages 2–5 (N = 731; 49% girls, 50% White). A curve of factors model was fit to externalizing behaviors from child ages 7.5–14. Chronic, elevated instability across early childhood predicted elevated externalizing behaviors from middle childhood to adolescence. Data collection spanned from 2002 to 2017. Increasing or declining levels of instability predicted elevated externalizing behaviors in middle to late childhood, but not in adolescence. Caregiver depressive symptoms mediated the association between instability and the externalizing behavior intercept. Intervening on chronic instability may reduce child externalizing problems.
ISSN:0009-3920
1467-8624
DOI:10.1111/cdev.13726