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. 2012 Nov;53(11):1099-108.
doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02595.x. Epub 2012 Aug 29.

Defining the developmental parameters of temper loss in early childhood: implications for developmental psychopathology

Lauren S Wakschlag  1 , Seung W Choi, Alice S Carter, Heide Hullsiek, James Burns, Kimberly McCarthy, Ellen Leibenluft, Margaret J Briggs-Gowan
Affiliations

Defining the developmental parameters of temper loss in early childhood: implications for developmental psychopathology

Lauren S Wakschlag et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Temper modulation problems are both a hallmark of early childhood and a common mental health concern. Thus, characterizing specific behavioral manifestations of temper loss along a dimension from normative misbehaviors to clinically significant problems is an important step toward identifying clinical thresholds.

Methods: Parent-reported patterns of temper loss were delineated in a diverse community sample of preschoolers (n = 1,490). A developmentally sensitive questionnaire, the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschool Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB), was used to assess temper loss in terms of tantrum features and anger regulation. Specific aims were: (a) document the normative distribution of temper loss in preschoolers from normative misbehaviors to clinically concerning temper loss behaviors, and test for sociodemographic differences; (b) use Item Response Theory (IRT) to model a Temper Loss dimension; and (c) examine associations of temper loss and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems.

Results: Across sociodemographic subgroups, a unidimensional Temper Loss model fit the data well. Nearly all (83.7%) preschoolers had tantrums sometimes but only 8.6% had daily tantrums. Normative misbehaviors occurred more frequently than clinically concerning temper loss behaviors. Milder behaviors tended to reflect frustration in expectable contexts, whereas clinically concerning problem indicators were unpredictable, prolonged, and/or destructive. In multivariate models, Temper Loss was associated with emotional and behavioral problems.

Conclusions: Parent reports on a developmentally informed questionnaire, administered to a large and diverse sample, distinguished normative and problematic manifestations of preschool temper loss. A developmental, dimensional approach shows promise for elucidating the boundaries between normative early childhood temper loss and emergent psychopathology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Lauren Wakschlag, Seung Choi, Heide Hullsiek, James Burns, Kimberly McCarthy, and Ellen Leibenluft report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. Margaret Briggs-Gowan and Alice Carter receive royalties from the ITSEA (Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment), which is a published measure.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Severity Values for Items Along the Temper Loss Dimension
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustrative Item Response Functions. (A) Normative Misbehavior. (B) Problem Indicator
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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