Reciprocal Longitudinal Relations Between Externalizing and Internalizing Problems in Childhood

• In Event: Executive Functioning in Childhood

Abstract

Despite extensive evidence showing the co-occurrence of externalizing and internalizing problems, the directional and temporal relations between the two remain ambiguous. This ambiguity might be due to the limited number of studies as well as the conflicting results and methodological limitations of the existing studies. The present study uses the random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model to investigate the reciprocal, longitudinal relations between externalizing and internalizing problems in a sample of economically disadvantaged children. Our preliminary findings provide supportive evidence for the failure model, showing that externalizing problems results in increased risk for internalizing problems above and beyond the influences of common risk factors for both problems. The implications of the findings for future research and intervention will be discussed.

Authors

• Yoonkyung Oh, University of Texas - Health Science Center at Houston

• Mark T. Greenberg, The Pennsylvania State University