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Risk Factors for Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Preschool Years: Systematic Literature Review Based on the Child Behavior Checklist 1½–5

Journal of Child and Family Studies volume 25, pages 2941–2953 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Early childhood is a common period for the onset of internalizing and externalizing problems. Many are the risk factors that contribute to the emergence of these types of problems. Literature enhances the importance of viewing the child as part of a system, in order to better understand the origin, the trajectory and the impact of risk factors in child mental health in preschool age. The current systematic literature review aims to examine empirical evidence based on the Child Behavior Checklist 1½–5 for risk factors related to the presence of internalizing and externalizing problems in children aged between 3 and 6 years old. The literature review includes articles published from January 2001 to December 2014. Twenty-eight articles that attend to pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria were reported throughout the review. In general, results indicate that risk factors for internalizing and externalizing problems in preschool age can be organized into three main groups of risks: environment factors, parental/parenting factors, and child factors. It is clear that frequently more than one risk related to the emergence of internalizing and externalizing problems in preschool age children are reported. It is also possible to note that are few risks factors consistently studied in this age, highlighting the need for further investigation.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia with the grant SFRH/BD/82020/2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Alexandra Carneiro & Isabel Soares

  2. Centro de Estudos em Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal

    Alexandra Carneiro & Pedro Dias

  3. Faculdade de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

    Pedro Dias

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  1. Alexandra Carneiro
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Correspondence to Pedro Dias.

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Carneiro, A., Dias, P. & Soares, I. Risk Factors for Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Preschool Years: Systematic Literature Review Based on the Child Behavior Checklist 1½–5. J Child Fam Stud 25, 2941–2953 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0456-z

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Keywords

  • Risk factors
  • Preschool age
  • CBCL 1½–5
  • Internalizing problems
  • Externalizing problems