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Social Problem Solving, Conduct Problems, and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Children

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Abstract

This study examined the association between social problem solving, conduct problems (CP), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits in elementary age children. Participants were 53 children (40 boys and 13 girls) aged 7–12 years. Social problem solving was evaluated using the Social Problem Solving Test-Revised, which requires children to produce solutions to eight hypothetical social problems, including five problems involving acquiring a desired object and three problems gaining access to a peer. Regression analyses showed that greater frequency of CP symptoms was associated with producing less flexible, relevant, and prosocial solutions and more overtly aggressive solutions. However, this pattern was present only when CU traits were low. Results add to a growing body of literature demonstrating that CU traits are an important moderator of CP in children.

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Acknowledgments

This project was partially supported by grants to Dr. Waschbusch from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation ((304E) and from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (839-2000-1061). We would like to thank the many children, parents, teachers, and research assistants who helped make this project possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and the Center for Children and Families, University at Buffalo—State University of New York, 106 Diefendorf Hall, 3435 Main Street, Building 20, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

    Daniel A. Waschbusch

  2. Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, IWK Health Centre, B3K 6R8, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Trudi M. Walsh & Normand J. Carrey

  3. Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Daniel A. Waschbusch, Brendan F. Andrade & Sara King

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  1. Daniel A. Waschbusch
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  2. Trudi M. Walsh
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  4. Sara King
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Correspondence to Daniel A. Waschbusch.

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Waschbusch, D.A., Walsh, T.M., Andrade, B.F. et al. Social Problem Solving, Conduct Problems, and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Children. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 37, 293–305 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-006-0033-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-006-0033-6

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