Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Maternal emotional intelligence and negative parenting affect are independently associated with callous-unemotional traits in preschoolers

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Deficits in emotion intelligence (EI) are a key component of early-childhood callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Children’s EI may be influenced by their mother’s EI through both familial genetic and environmental mechanisms; however, no study has directly tested the role of maternal EI in the development of CU traits. This study investigated whether maternal EI had a direct relationship with children’s CU traits when controlling for the potential influence of parenting affect and other psychiatric diagnoses. Mothers and their 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers (N = 200) were recruited as part of a parent–child interaction—emotion development therapy treatment trial for preschool clinical depression and comorbid psychopathology. Using data collected prior to treatment, regression models tested whether maternal EI was related to children’s CU traits, which specific aspects of maternal EI were most strongly associated with CU traits, and whether associations held after accounting for observed parenting affect. Maternal EI (p < 0.005), specifically the ability to understand others’ emotions (p < 0.01), was significantly associated with children’s CU traits. This relationship was specific, as maternal EI did not predict depression or oppositional defiant disorder. Both maternal EI and observed negative parenting affect were independently and significantly related to CU traits (p < 0.05) in a combined model. Given that maternal EI and observed negative parenting affect were independent predictors of CU traits in preschoolers with comorbid depression, findings suggest that current treatments for CU traits that focus solely on improving parenting could be made more effective by targeting maternal EI and helping mothers better model emotional competence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data available upon request.

References

  1. Blair RJR, Leibenluft E, Pine DS (2014) Conduct disorder and callous-unemotional traits in youth. N Engl J Med 371(23):2207–2216. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1315612

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Waller R, Wagner NJ, Barstead MG, Subar A, Petersen JL, Hyde JS, Hyde LW (2020) A meta-analysis of the associations between callous-unemotional traits and empathy, prosociality, and guilt. Clin Psychol Rev 75:101809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101809

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Waller R, Hyde LW (2018) Callous-unemotional behaviors in early childhood: the development of empathy and prosociality gone awry. Curr Opin Psychol 20:11–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.07.037

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Waller R, Dishion TJ, Shaw DS, Gardner F, Wilson MN, Hyde LW (2016) Does early childhood callous-unemotional behavior uniquely predict behavior problems or callous-unemotional behavior in late childhood? Dev Psychol 52(11):1805–1819. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000165

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Willoughby MT, Mills-Koonce WR, Gottfredson NC, Wagner NJ (2014) Measuring callous unemotional behaviors in early childhood: factor structure and the prediction of stable aggression in middle childhood. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 36(1):30–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-013-9379-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hawes DJ, Price MJ, Dadds MR (2014) Callous-unemotional traits and the treatment of conduct problems in childhood and adolescence: a comprehensive review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 17(3):248–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-014-0167-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Woodworth M, Waschbusch D (2008) Emotional processing in children with conduct problems and callous/unemotional traits. Child Care Health Dev 34(2):234–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00792.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. White SF, Briggs-Gowan MJ, Voss JL, Petitclerc A, McCarthy K, Blair RJR, Wakschlag LS (2016) Can the fear recognition deficits associated with callous-unemotional traits be identified in early childhood? J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 38(6):672–684. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2016.1149154

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Maul A (2012) The validity of the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) as a measure of emotional intelligence. Emot Rev 4(4):394–402. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073912445811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kimonis ER, Fanti KA, Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous X, Mertan B, Goulter N, Katsimicha E (2016) Can callous-unemotional traits be reliably measured in preschoolers? J Abnorm Child Psychol 44(4):625–638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-0075-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Vernon PA, Petrides KV, Bratko D, Schermer JA (2008) A behavioral genetic study of trait emotional intelligence. Emotion 8(5):635–642. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Viding E, McCrory EJ (2012) Genetic and neurocognitive contributions to the development of psychopathy. Dev Psychopathol 24(3):969–983. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095457941200048X

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Denham S, Kochanoff AT (2002) Parental contributions to preschoolers’ understanding of emotion. Marriage Fam Rev 34(3–4):311–343. https://doi.org/10.1300/J002v34n03_06

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wagner NJ, Mills-Koonce WR, Willoughby MT, Zvara B, Cox MJ, The Family Life Project Key Investigators (2015) Parenting and children’s representations of family predict disruptive and callous-unemotional behaviors. Dev Psychol 51(7):935–948. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039353

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Wright N, Hill J, Sharp H, Pickles A (2018) Maternal sensitivity to distress, attachment and the development of callous-unemotional traits in young children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 59(7):790–800. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12867

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Hastings PD, Utendale WT, Sullivan C (2007) The socialization of prosocial development. In: Handbook of socialization: theory and research, pp 638–664

  17. Pasalich DS, Waschbusch DA, Dadds MR, Hawes DJ (2014) Emotion socialization style in parents of children with callous-unemotional traits. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45(2):229–242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0395-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kimonis ER, Frick PJ, Cauffman E, Goldweber A, Skeem J (2012) Primary and secondary variants of juvenile psychopathy differ in emotional processing. Dev Psychopathol 24(3):1091–1103. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412000557

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Goulter N, Kimonis ER, Hawes SW, Stepp S, Hipwell AE (2017) Identifying stable variants of callous-unemotional traits: a longitudinal study of at-risk girls. Dev Psychol 53(12):2364–2376. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000394

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Craig SG, Goulter N, Moretti MM (2021) A systematic review of primary and secondary callous-unemotional traits and psychopathy variants in youth. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 24(1):65–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-020-00329-x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Pardini DA, Fite PJ (2010) Symptoms of conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and callous-unemotional traits as unique predictors of psychosocial maladjustment in boys: advancing an evidence base for DSM-V. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 49(11):1134–1144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.07.010

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Craig SG, Moretti MM (2019) Profiles of primary and secondary callous-unemotional features in youth: the role of emotion regulation. Dev Psychopathol 31(4):1489–1500. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579418001062

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Salekin RT, Leistico A-MR, Neumann CS, DiCicco TM, Duros RL (2004) Psychopathy and comorbidity in a young offender sample: taking a closer look at psychopathy’s potential importance over disruptive behavior disorders. J Abnorm Psychol 113(3):416–427. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.113.3.416

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Donohue MR, Hoyniak CP, Tillman R, Barch DM, Luby J (2021) Associations of observed callous–unemotional behaviors in early childhood with conduct problems and substance use over 14 years. Dev Psychopathol. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421000791

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Donohue MR, Hoyniak CP, Tillman R, Barch DM, Luby J (2021) Callous-unemotional traits as an intervention target and moderator of parent-child interaction therapy—emotion development treatment for preschool depression and conduct problems. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2021.03.018

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Wichstrøm L, Berg-Nielsen TS, Angold A, Egger HL, Solheim E, Sveen TH (2012) Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in preschoolers: psychiatric disorders in preschoolers. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 53(6):695–705. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02514.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gibb SJ, Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ (2010) Burden of psychiatric disorder in young adulthood and life outcomes at age 30. Br J Psychiatry 197(2):122–127. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.109.076570

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gaffrey MS, Luby JL (2012) Kiddie schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia-early childhood version (K-SADS-EC). Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis

    Google Scholar 

  29. Luby JL, Barch DM, Whalen D, Tillman R, Freedland KE (2018) A randomized controlled trial of parent-child psychotherapy targeting emotion development for early childhood depression. Am J Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18030321

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Achenbach TM, Rescorla LA (2000) Child behavior checklist for ages 1 1/2-5. ASEBA. University of Vermont

  31. Waller R, Hyde LW, Grabell AS, Alves ML, Olson SL (2015) Differential associations of early callous-unemotional, oppositional, and ADHD behaviors: multiple domains within early-starting conduct problems? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 56(6):657–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kochanska G, Aksan N (2004) Development of mutual responsiveness between parents and their young children. Child Dev 75(6):1657–1676. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00808.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Whalen DJ, Gilbert KE (2017) Dyadic interaction codingmanual: PCIT-ED Edition. Washington University, St. Louis

    Google Scholar 

  34. Zimmerman PH, Bolhuis JE, Willemsen A, Meyer ES, Noldus LPJJ (2009) The observer XT: a tool for the integration and synchronization of multimodal signals. Behav Res Methods 41(3):731–735. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.3.731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mayer JD, Salovey P, Caruso DR (2012) The validity of the MSCEIT: additional analyses and evidence. Emot Rev 4(4):403–408. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073912445815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Roberts RD, Schulze R, O’Brien K, MacCann C, Reid J, Maul A (2006) Exploring the validity of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) with established emotions measures. Emotion 6(4):663–669. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.6.4.663

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Iliescu D, Ilie A, Ispas D, Ion A (2013) Examining the psychometric properties of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso emotional intelligence test: findings from an Eastern European culture. Eur J Psychol Assess 29(2):121–128. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Beck AT, Steer RA, Brown G (1996) Beck depression inventory–II. Psychological Assessment

  39. Toledano-Toledano F, Contreras-Valdez JA (2018) Validity and reliability of the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) in family caregivers of children with chronic diseases. PLoS ONE 13(11):e0206917. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Schotte CKW, Maes M, Cluydts R, De Doncker D, Cosyns P (1997) Construct validity of the Beck Depression Inventory in a depressive population. J Affect Disord 46(2):115–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(97)00094-3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Zeidner M, Matthews G, Roberts RD, MacCann C (2003) Development of emotional intelligence: towards a multi-level investment model. Hum Dev 46(2–3):69–96. https://doi.org/10.1159/000068580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Waller R, Trentacosta CJ, Shaw DS, Neiderhiser JM, Ganiban JM, Reiss D et al (2016) Heritable temperament pathways to early callous–unemotional behaviour. Br J Psychiatry 209(6):475–482. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.181503

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Eisenberg N, Spinrad TL, Cumberland A (1998) The socialization of emotion: reply to commentaries. Psychol Inq 9(4):317–333. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0904_17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Jones AP, Happé FGE, Gilbert F, Burnett S, Viding E (2010) Feeling, caring, knowing: different types of empathy deficit in boys with psychopathic tendencies and autism spectrum disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 51(11):1188–1197. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02280.x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Fernández-Berrocal P, Extremera N (2016) Ability emotional intelligence, depression, and well-being. Emot Rev 8(4):311–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073916650494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Fernandez-Berrocal P, Alcaide R, Extremera N, Pizarro D (2006) The role of emotional intelligence in anxiety and depression among adolescents, 13

  47. Mills-Koonce WR, Willoughby MT, Garrett-Peters P, Wagner N, Vernon-Feagans L, The Family Life Project Key Investigators (2016) The interplay among socioeconomic status, household chaos, and parenting in the prediction of child conduct problems and callous–unemotional behaviors. Dev Psychopathol 28(3):757–771. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579416000298

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Hyde LW, Waller R, Trentacosta CJ, Shaw DS, Neiderhiser JM, Ganiban JM et al (2016) Heritable and nonheritable pathways to early callous-unemotional behaviors. Am J Psychiatry 173(9):903–910. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15111381

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Donohue MR, Whalen DJ, Gilbert KE, Hennefield L, Barch DM, Luby J (2019) Preschool depression: a diagnostic reality. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21(12):128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1102-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Chaplin TM, Cole PM, Zahn-Waxler C (2005) Parental socialization of emotion expression: gender differences and relations to child adjustment. Emotion 5(1):80–88. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.5.1.80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Willoughby MT, Waschbusch DA, Moore GA, Propper CB (2011) Using the ASEBA to screen for callous unemotional traits in early childhood: factor structure, temporal stability, and utility. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 33(1):19–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-010-9195-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Kimonis ER, Fleming G, Briggs N, Brouwer-French L, Frick PJ, Hawes DJ et al (2019) Parent-child interaction therapy adapted for preschoolers with callous-unemotional traits: an open trial pilot study. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 48(sup1):S347–S361. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2018.1479966

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01MH064769-06A1, K23MH125023, K23MH115074, K23 MH118426, F30 HD104313-01A1), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University (U54-HD087011), and the Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program. The authors would like to thank the Early Emotional Development Program and the families involved with the study.

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01MH064769-06A1, K23MH125023, K23MH115074, K23 MH118426, F30 HD104313-01A1), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University (U54-HD087011), and the Washington University Medical Scientist Training Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave, Box 8514, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Rebecca G. Brady

  2. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

    Rebecca G. Brady

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

    Meghan Rose Donohue, Rebecca Tillman, Kirsten E. Gilbert, Diana J. Whalen, Cynthia E. Rogers, Deanna M. Barch & Joan L. Luby

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Rebecca Waller

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

    Cynthia E. Rogers

  6. Mallinckrot Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

    Deanna M. Barch

  7. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA

    Deanna M. Barch

Authors
  1. Rebecca G. Brady
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meghan Rose Donohue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rebecca Waller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rebecca Tillman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kirsten E. Gilbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Diana J. Whalen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Cynthia E. Rogers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Deanna M. Barch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Joan L. Luby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca G. Brady.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

All study procedures were approved by Washington University Institutional Review Board.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from mothers prior to participation in the study, including consent to participate and consent to publish.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 59 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Brady, R.G., Donohue, M.R., Waller, R. et al. Maternal emotional intelligence and negative parenting affect are independently associated with callous-unemotional traits in preschoolers. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 32, 2303–2311 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02074-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02074-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation