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Poster #47 - Pathways from Childhood Self-regulation to Adolescent Health Behaviors: Indirect Effects Through Psychosocial Functioning

Fri, March 24, 3:30 to 4:15pm, Salt Palace Convention Center, Floor: 1, Hall A-B

Abstract

Health behaviors, including behavioral choices/habits that influence health (sleep, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet, substance use) directly impact cardiometabolic risk (CMR), which can emerge by the adolescent years (Gaydosh et al., 2018). How adolescents navigate the transitions (e.g., increased independence from parents) and stress of adolescence likely negatively impact their engagement in healthy behaviors. Yet, health behaviors during adolescence can influence lifelong health and thus, it is important to identify early-occurring, modifiable predictors of early health behaviors.

Self-regulation (SR), including the ability to control one’s emotions, behaviors, attention, and cognitions in order to meet environmental demands and one’s goals (Calkins & Fox, 2002; Nigg, 2017), predicts health behaviors (e.g., Daly et al., 2014; Reimann et al., 2020). However, even though SR is well-developed by childhood, longitudinal evidence of this association from childhood through adolescence is lacking. Furthermore, the mechanism(s) underlying associations between early SR with later health behaviors are not well-understood. During middle childhood, psychosocial behaviors (e.g., social functioning, behavior problems, attitude to school) play a central role in the development of positive adjustment, including health behaviors. Therefore, we assessed the longitudinal indirect pathways by which middle childhood psychosocial functioning explain the associations between early childhood SR and adolescent health behaviors.

Data came from 380 children (58% female, 60% Caucasian). At age 5, children completed SR tasks that assessed emotional (End of line global regulation; 0=dysregulated-4=well-regulated; Goldsmith et al., 1995; K=.81), behavioral (shape stroop and walk-a-line total scores; Kochanska et al., 1997), and attentional (bead sorting on-task time proportion; Goldsmith et al., 1995) regulation skills. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to create a SR composite (χ2(2)=1.84, p=.40, RMSEA=.00, CFI=1.00). At age 10, mothers reported on children’s anxious/depressive behaviors (Child Behavior Checklist; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001; α=.82-.89) and social skills (Social Skills Rating System; Gresham & Elliot, 1990; α=.84). Children reported their attitude towards school (Behavior Assessment System for Children; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004; α=.84) and perceived victimization (Perceptions of Peer Support Scale; Kochenderfer & Ladd, 1996; α=.80). At age 16, adolescents reported their healthy eating behavior (Adolescent Food Habits Checklist; Johnson, Wardle, Griffith, 2002; α=.84), sedentary behavior (Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire; Rosenberg et al, 2010; α=.69), physical activity (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire; Godin & Shepard, 1985), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Buyusse et al., 1989; α=.68), and substance use (smoking cigarettes, alcohol use; Youth Risk Behavior Survey, CDC, 2005).

A path analysis was conducted to address the study aims. FIML was used to handle missing data; standardized estimates and model fit are provided (Figure 1). Sex was included as a covariate. Multiple direct and indirect effects were significant (see Figure 1; Table 1) indicating that middle childhood externalizing behaviors, attitude to school, social skills and victimization serve as important mechanisms to explain the SR-health behaviors link across an 11-year period. Importantly, specific psychosocial behaviors were associated with specific adolescent health behaviors. Identification of how childhood SR influences health behaviors is essential to inform entry points and behavior targets for interventions aimed at altering health behaviors and lowering CMR.

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