Jarvers, Irina and Kandsperger, Stephanie and Ecker, Angelika and Brandstetter, Susanne and Kabesch, Michael and Koeninger, Angela and Melter, Michael and Kerzel, Sebastian and Kittel, Jochen and Apfelbacher, Christian and Brunner, Romuald (2024) Longitudinal predictors for internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4: KUNO-Kids cohort study. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY, 15: 1449108. ISSN 1664-0640,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Introduction Numerous early-life risk factors are thought to significantly contribute to the development of psychological problems in toddlerhood. However, these factors have seldom been investigated concomitantly and longitudinally, and few studies include both mothers and fathers. This study examines the longitudinal impact of early environmental, parental, and child-specific risk factors on children's internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4.Methods Families were recruited from a perinatal center at birth and completed self-report questionnaires at birth, 4 weeks postpartum, 6 months postpartum, and annually thereafter. The final population-based sample consisted of n = 560 mothers (and fathers) who gave birth after June 2015, with children who turned 4 years old before March 31, 2021. The primary outcomes, children's internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4, were measured using the Strengthsand Difficulties Questionnaire. Linear mixed effect models were used to estimate growth curves for predictors between 4 weeks and 4 years postpartum, which were subsequently entered into multivariable linear regressions to predict internalizing and externalizing symptomatology at age 4.Results The study identified several key risk factors: environmental (lack of social support, lower parental education, male sex), parental (poor parental mental health, increased parenting stress, parental sleep difficulties) and child-specific (children's low physical health, children's reduced sleep quality, temperament).Discussion The findings underscore that most identified risk factors are related to children's temperament, mental and physical health of parents, their experienced stress, and families' social support networks. These insights highlight the importance of targeted interventions focusing on improving parental mental health, reducing stress, and enhancing social support to mitigate early-life psychological problems in children.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER; SLEEP QUALITY INDEX; 14-YEAR FOLLOW-UP; EARLY-CHILDHOOD; DIFFICULTIES QUESTIONNAIRE; PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; PARENTING STRESS; RISK-FACTORS; SYMPTOMS; BEHAVIOR; internalizing; externalizing; risk factors; protective factors; mental health; preschool children; longitudinal |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe (Schwerpunkt Frauenheilkunde) Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2025 11:04 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2025 11:04 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/63579 |
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