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Testing Models of Psychopathology in Preschool-aged Children Using a Structured Interview-based Assessment

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Abstract

A number of studies have found that broadband internalizing and externalizing factors provide a parsimonious framework for understanding the structure of psychopathology across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. However, few of these studies have examined psychopathology in young children, and several recent studies have found support for alternative models, including a bi-factor model with common and specific factors. The present study used parents’ (typically mothers’) reports on a diagnostic interview in a community sample of 3-year old children (n = 541; 53.9 % male) to compare the internalizing-externalizing latent factor model with a bi-factor model. The bi-factor model provided a better fit to the data. To test the concurrent validity of this solution, we examined associations between this model and paternal reports and laboratory observations of child temperament. The internalizing factor was associated with low levels of surgency and high levels of fear; the externalizing factor was associated with high levels of surgency and disinhibition and low levels of effortful control; and the common factor was associated with high levels of surgency and negative affect and low levels of effortful control. These results suggest that psychopathology in preschool-aged children may be explained by a single, common factor influencing nearly all disorders and unique internalizing and externalizing factors. These findings indicate that shared variance across internalizing and externalizing domains is substantial and are consistent with recent suggestions that emotion regulation difficulties may be a common vulnerability for a wide array of psychopathology.

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Notes

  1. In addition to relying on the CBQ factor scores, we conducted secondary analyses using a rationally constructed positive emotionality scale. The CBQ surgency scale largely reflects impulsivity and sensation seeking and limits our understanding of how a more traditional positive emotionality construct is associated with the latent dimensions. We examined a composite of two scales -- smiling/laughter and shyness-reverse scored (r = 0.35, p < 0.001) – to index positive emotionality. Using this scale, positive emotionality was negatively associated with the internalizing factor (r = −0.19, p < 0.001) and positively associated with the externalizing factor (r = 0.11, p < 0.01), however it was not related to the common factor (r = 0.04, p = 0.45)

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by R01 MH069942 (PI: Klein), K01 MH092603 (PI: Olino), F31 MH084444 (PI: Bufferd), and M01 RR10710 (Stony Brook University General Clinical Research Center). Dr. Carlson receives funding from Glaxo Smith Kline and Bristol Myers Squibb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Thomas M. Olino

  2. University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MA, USA

    Lea R. Dougherty

  3. California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, USA

    Sara J. Bufferd

  4. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Gabrielle A. Carlson & Daniel N. Klein

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  1. Thomas M. Olino
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  2. Lea R. Dougherty
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  3. Sara J. Bufferd
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  4. Gabrielle A. Carlson
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  5. Daniel N. Klein
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Correspondence to Thomas M. Olino.

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Olino, T.M., Dougherty, L.R., Bufferd, S.J. et al. Testing Models of Psychopathology in Preschool-aged Children Using a Structured Interview-based Assessment. J Abnorm Child Psychol 42, 1201–1211 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9865-x

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