Work

Exploring child positive affect in context: Links to internalizing and externalizing symptoms among preschoolers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Child positive affectivity (PA) remains an underexplored topic in temperament research, with varying findings on developmental outcomes potentially influenced by different measurement approaches. Employing a multi-method approach, this study investigated associations between child PA and internalizing and externalizing problems among 100 families with two siblings (mean age = 3.86). Child PA was measured using five scripted episodes from the preschool version of the Laboratory Temperament Assessment (Lab-TAB) battery, including Gift, End of the Line, Snack Delay, Corral of Balls, and Stranger Approach episodes, as well as a parent-rated questionnaire. The findings supported the heterogeneous nature of child PA as a function of both measurement approach and contextual specificity and revealed intriguing associations between PA and different profiles of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Implications for future studies are discussed.

Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development

DOI: 10.1177/01650254251344601

Authors: Fanyi Yu, Jeffrey R. Gagne, Lauryl Salami

Institution: Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650