Differential associations of early callous‐unemotional, oppositional, and ADHD behaviors: multiple domains within early‐starting conduct problems?

Abstract

Background Early-starting child conduct problems (CP) are linked to the development of persistent antisocial behavior. Researchers have theorized multiple pathways to CP and that CP comprise separable domains, marked by callous unemotional (CU) behavior, oppositional behavior, or ADHD symptoms. However, a lack of empirical evidence exists from studies that have examined whether there are unique correlates of these domains. Methods We examined differential correlates of CU, oppositional, and ADHD behaviors during the preschool years to test their potentially distinct nomological networks. Multi-method data, including parent and teacher reports and observations of child behavior, were drawn from a prospective, longitudinal study of children assessed at age 3 and age 6 (N=240; 48% female). Results Dimensions of CU, oppositional and ADHD behaviors were separable within Confirmatory Factor Analyses across mother and father reports. There were differential associations between CU, oppositional, and ADHD behaviors and socioemotional, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes: CU behavior was uniquely related to lower moral regulation, guilt, and empathy. ADHD was uniquely related to lower attentional focusing and observed effortful control. Finally, CU behavior uniquely predicted increases in teacher-reported externalizing from ages 3–6 over and above covariates, and ADHD and oppositional behavior. Conclusions Consistent with theory, dimensions of CU, ADHD, and oppositional behavior demonstrated separable nomological networks representing separable facets within early-starting CP.

Measurement of callous-unemotional traits in very young children: a psychometric and validity study from 2.5 to 5.0 years

“…First, in response to the concern that CU traits may not be identifiable as separable from conduct problems, we showed using CFA that mothers' ratings of CU traits were separable from ratings of physical aggression at age 2.5 years. This builds on previous findings which have demonstrated that CU traits are distinct from other problem behaviour dimensions at age 3 years and above (Willoughby et al, 2011;Willoughby et al, 2013;Waller et al, 2015).…”

“…Hyde et al (2013) found their age 3 deceitful-callous measure to predict increased behaviour problems from age 2 to 4 years after accounting for initial problem behaviour. Further, Waller et al (2015) found age 3 mother-reported CU traits predicted teacher-reported externalizing problems at age 6, after accounting for age 3 externalizing problems. No study has yet shown incremental validity for a CU trait measure in 2 year olds in this way.…”

“…The majority of studies of early childhood have reported unsatisfactory Cronbach's Alpha for their measures. For example, α = .54 reported for the APSD from a sample of 2-5 year olds (Kimonis et al, 2006) and α = .55 to .66 reported for CBCL-based CU traits measure in four samples of 3-4 year olds (Kimonis, Bagner, Linares, Blake & Rodriguez, 2014;Waller et al, 2015;Willoughby et al, 2011;Willoughbly et al, 2014). In the only investigation to assess the psychometric properties of a CU traits measure in 2 year olds, Hyde et al (2013) reported an unsatisfactory Cronbach's Alpha at age 2 years (α = .57 for primary caregiver and α = .47 for alternative caregiver report), which was slightly improved by age 3 years (α = .64 and α = .66) and approaching commonly accepted values for both reporters at age 4 (α = .72 and α = .66) for their 5 item hybrid measure.…”

“…In the first of these studies, Dadds, Hawes, Frost and Fraser (2005) demonstrated that the APSD CU items were separable from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) conduct problems, hyperactivity, anxiety and peer problems in a community sample of 1,359 4-9 year olds using EFA. Three studies of three year olds have subsequently used CFA on items from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach & Rescola, 2001) and demonstrated that a 5 item CU traits subscale was distinct from ODD and ADHD (Waller, Hyde, Grabell, Alves & Olson, 2015;Willoughby, Waschbusch, Moore & Propper, 2011;Willoughby et al, 2014).…”

Development of Psychopathy from Childhood

“…Although direct prospective links from low ailiative behavior have not been tested, recent studies suggest that callous-unemotional behaviors are related to lower quality of positive afective parent-child interactions, including lower eye contact, warmth, [66,67] and empathy [68].…”