From traits to trajectories

Heinze, Henning; Schmiedek, Florian; Brandt, Valerie; Daseking, Monika; Kerner auch Körner, Julia

doi:10.1017/S0954579426101278

From traits to trajectories

How changes in reactive temperament relate to the development of externalizing symptoms

Publication date

2026-03-09

Document type

Forschungsartikel

Author

Heinze, Henning

Schmiedek, Florian

Brandt, Valerie

Daseking, Monika

Kerner auch Körner, Julia

Organisational unit

Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie

DOI

10.1017/S0954579426101278

URI

https://openhsu.ub.hsu-hh.de/handle/10.24405/20507

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Series or journal

Development and Psychopathology

ISSN

0954-5794

Periodical volume

2026

Is part of

https://openhsu.ub.hsu-hh.de/handle/10.24405/20498

Peer-reviewed

✅

Part of the university bibliography

✅

Language

English

Keyword

ADHD

Externalizing

Longitudinal

Preschool

Temperament

Abstract

Temperament has been linked to the development of externalizing symptoms, but the nature of these associations remains unclear. Traditional approaches often treat early reactive temperament as static, overlooking developmental variation. This study applied a longitudinal latent change score model to examine how levels and changes in Negative Affect (NA) and Surgency from age 3 to 5 predict Conduct Problems (CP) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in early childhood. Data from the National Educational Panel Study (N = 2,477) were analyzed. Temperament was assessed at ages 3, 4, and 5 using the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire, and CP and ADHD symptoms were measured at ages 5, 6, and 8 with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Measurement invariance was established. Significant individual differences in developmental change emerged. Change in NA and Surgency, but not baseline levels, predicted higher latent CP and ADHD symptom levels at age 5 and further increases through age 8. These findings indicate that intraindividual change in reactive temperament can be a relevant marker of developmental risk. Temperamental risk for externalizing symptoms in early childhood is not fixed but may be shaped by both stable dispositions and developmental change, highlighting the importance of assessing temperament development to identify early emerging risk.

Description

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.

Cite as

Heinze, Henning, Florian Schmiedek, Valerie Brandt, Monika Daseking, and Julia Kerner auch Koerner. “From Traits to Trajectories: How Changes in Reactive Temperament Relate to the Development of Externalizing Symptoms.” Development and Psychopathology, 2026, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579426101278.

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