Sensory Processing Patterns and Internalizing Behaviors in the Pediatric and Young Adult General Population: A Scoping Review

Background: While research has largely focused on the relationship between sensory processing patterns and internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression) in children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, this relationship is not fully understood among the general population or across development. Method: This scoping review addressed the following research question: How are sensory processing patterns associated with internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression) among children with various conditions as well as typically developing children from birth to 22 years of age? Results: Since 2005, n = 97 peer-reviewed articles have addressed this topic and were included in the current review. Overall, findings show a complex interplay between sensory processing patterns, internalizing behaviors, cognitive factors (intolerance of uncertainty, ritualism, cognitive rigidity), and personality characteristics. Discussion: The results of this review showed that research primarily focused on individuals with ASD, and many articles used mediation models to examine complex relationships. Implications for future research are discussed

Affect presentation in infancy and toddlerhood as a predictor of later internalizing behaviors in early childhood

Affect representations during infancy have been associated with internalizing behaviors among children. However, few studies have examined the role of parenting practices in early childhood as shaping such associations. The current study used a large, population-stratified, randomly-selected sample of children living in rural areas under conditions of poverty to examine how positive and negative affect at 15 months was associated with internalizing behaviors at 58 months of age. Patterns of interaction between infant affects and positive and negative parenting behaviors at 24 were also examined and probed to determine whether these effects supported a diathesis stress model of early developmental processes related to later internalizing behaviors. Infant affect and parenting behaviors were measured using observational assessments and primary caregivers reported on children’s internalizing behaviors. Results indicated that positive parenting predicted lower levels of internalizing behaviors for all children. For European American children, lower levels of negative affect were associated with greater internalizing behaviors in the presence of low positive parenting. For African American children, more negative parenting was associated with higher levels of internalizing behaviors. These findings raise important questions regarding different levels of vulnerability to environmental influences among European American and African American young children and have the potential to inform interventions aimed at preventing and/or reducing internalizing behaviors

Dyadic flexibility and positive affect in mother-child interaction and child effortful control as independent and interacting predictors of child internalizing behaviors

2012 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.The current study examined both the structure (i.e., in terms of dynamic systems based indicators of flexibility) and the affective content of mother-child interaction, as these relate to children's internalizing behaviors. Child effortful control (EC) was also examined. Together, child EC, dyadic flexibility and dyadic positive affect were tested as independent and interactive predictors of children's internalizing behaviors. In a sample of 100 mother-child dyads when children were approximately 3 years of age, dyads participated in a free play interaction task, and children's EC was observed in a gift delay, snack, and tower task at T1. At T2, mothers and partners reported on children's internalizing behaviors. Child EC significantly predicted internalizing behaviors at T2; there were significant within-time relations between dynamic measures of mother-child interaction and internalizing, and the relation between dynamic measures of mother-child affect at T1 showed a trend towards significantly predicting internalizing at T2. This short-term longitudinal assessment of mother-child interaction and child EC illustrates the complex processes involved in the prediction of children's internalizing behaviors

Patterns of poverty exposure and children\u27s trajectories of externalizing and internalizing behaviors

Using data from the Child Supplement of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, we compare trajectories of externalizing and internalizing behaviors among children exposed to five patterns of poverty from birth to age 14: always or never poor – stable patterns; a single transition into or out of poverty, or repeated fluctuations in and out of poverty – changing patterns. We also examine how low maternal education and single parenthood interact with these poverty exposures to compound their adverse effects. Finally, we compare the magnitude of effects associated with the patterns of poverty exposure, as well as their interactions with low maternal education and single parenthood, on trajectories of externalizing and internalizing behaviors to determine if they are significantly different. Results reveal that initial levels and rates of change in children\u27s trajectories of externalizing and internalizing behaviors are similar across the three changing patterns of poverty exposure, leading us to combine them into a single group representing intermittent poverty. Initial disparities between children who are never poor and their counterparts who are always or intermittently poor are constant over time for internalizing behaviors and grow in magnitude for externalizing behaviors. The cumulative negative effect of poverty exposure over time is stronger for externalizing vs. internalizing behaviors. Low maternal education compounds the adverse effects of persistent poverty, an effect that is similar for externalizing and internalizing behaviors

Effortful control and internalizing behaviors: clarifying conceptualization and examining social competence as a mediating mechanism

The goal of the present research was to clarify conceptual issues in the assessment of effortful control in children and to examine the role of effortful control in the development of internalizing behaviors. Effortful control was assessed through both inhibition and activation components. Differential patterns of these abilities were examined in relation to subsequent internalizing problems. Furthermore, social competence was examined as a possible mechanism through which effortful control may influence internalizing behaviors. Children were assessed at 4-, 5.5- and 7.5-years on measures of inhibition/activation, social competence and internalizing behaviors. Results showed main effects for inhibition and activation on internalizing behaviors and supported a main effect for activation ability on kindergarten social competence ratings. Implications for future research examining effortful control and social and emotional outcomes were discussed

Relationship between discordance in parental monitoring and behavioral problems among Chilean adolescents

This study investigated the role of discrepancies between parent and youth reports of perceived parental monitoring in adolescent problem behaviors with a Chilean sample (N= 850). Higher levels of discordance concerning parental monitoring predicted greater levels of maladaptive youth behaviors. A positive association between parent-youth discordance and externalizing problems indicated that large adult-youth disagreement in parental monitoring may impose a great risk, despite protective efforts of parental monitoring. Although the direct relationship between parental monitoring and youth internalizing behaviors was not significant, parent-youth incongruence in monitoring was associated with greater levels of internalizing behaviors. Therefore, differing assessments of parental behaviors, as an indicator of less optimal family functioning, may provide important information about youth maladjustment and may potentially provide a beginning point for family-focused intervention.R01 DA021181 - NIDA NIH HHS; R01 DA021181-05 - NIDA NIH HHS; R01 HD033487 - NICHD NIH HH

Evaluation of the check in/check out (CICO) intervention for students with internalizing behavior problems

Internalizing behaviors are directed inward at the child and are often overlooked in classrooms compared to outwardly-directed externalizing behaviors. When internalizing behaviors are identified, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBIs) are the go-to targeted interventions. However, CBIs are time-consuming and require considerable training to implement. An efficient and time-effective targeted intervention for internalizing behaviors is needed. Check In/Check Out (CICO) has been shown to be an effective targeted intervention for children with externalizing behavior problems. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate CICO as a targeted intervention for kids with internalizing behavior problems. Four elementary school students with internalizing behavior problems received the CICO intervention. A mixed single-subject design was used to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness. Results suggest that ratings of prosocial replacement behaviors increased during the CICO phase and that overall, participants internalizing behaviors decreased

“Because I Said So”: The Effect of Parenting Practices on Adolescent Adjustment

This study aimed to examine the relationship between specific parenting practices (i.e., psychological control, behavioral control, and parental expectations) and adolescent adjustment outcomes (i.e., internalizing behaviors, externalizing behaviors, and self-worth). It was hypothesized that psychological control would have a positive relationship with internalizing behaviors and a negative relationship with self-worth. It was also hypothesized that behavioral control would have a negative relationship with externalizing behaviors and a positive relationship with self-worth. The study was longitudinal as data collection occurred over a 5-year period in order to determine if parenting practices not only affect adolescent adjustment outcomes, but if they do so over time. Parents reported psychological control, behavioral control, and parental expectations at time 1 (1997) and reported child internalizing behaviors and child internalizing behaviors at time 1 and time 2 (2002). Children reported self-worth at time 1 and time 2. None of the hypotheses were supported. Surprisingly, behavioral control was found to be a significant positive predictor of both internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors, and a significant negative predictor of self-worth. In addition, psychological control was found to be a significant negative predictor of externalizing behaviors. Parental expectations was found to be a significant negative predictor of internalizing behaviors. Research that focuses on parental control and adolescent adjustment outcomes has produced mixed findings. The contradictions that exist within the field could be attributed to inconsistent methodology and a general lack of research. Limitations of the study and potential future directions are discussed

Can Better Mother-Daughter Relations Reduce the Chance of a Suicide Attempt among Latinas?

National surveys and other research on adolescent Latinas show that adolescent females have higher rates of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts than other ethnic and racial minority youth. Internalizing behaviors and family conflicts are commonly associated with suicidality in research on adolescents. In the case of Latinas, we explore the connection between adolescent Hispanic cultural involvement, mother-adolescent mutuality, internalizing behaviors, and suicidality. This paper presents data from a study of 232 Latinas, some with a recent history of suicide attempts (n = 122). The results show that higher adolescent Hispanic cultural involvement was associated with greater mother-daughter mutuality and thus led to reduction in the likelihood of suicide attempts. The relationship between mother-daughter mutuality and suicide attempts among Latinas is mediated by specific internalizing behaviors (withdrawn depressive). Our findings highlight the positive effect that Latino cultural values have in the relationship between Latina adolescent and their mothers and confirm the importance that internalizing behaviors and the mother-daughter relationship have for suicide attempters

The impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy on depressive and anxiety behaviors in children: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) is associated with multiple adverse childhood outcomes including externalizing behaviors. However, the association between MSDP and internalizing (anxiety and depressive) behaviors in offspring has received less investigation. We aimed to assess the association between MSDP and childhood internalizing (anxiety and depressive) behaviors in a very large, well-characterized cohort study. METHODS: We assessed the association between MSDP and internalizing behaviors in offspring utilizing information drawn from 90,040 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Mothers reported smoking information, including status and frequency of smoking, twice during pregnancy. Mothers also reported their child\u27s internalizing behaviors at 18 months, 36 months, and 5 years. Associations between MSDP and childhood internalizing behaviors, including dose-response and timing of smoking in pregnancy, were assessed at each time point. RESULTS: MSDP was associated with increased internalizing behaviors when offspring were aged 18 months (B = 0.11, P <0.001) and 36 months (B = 0.06, P <0.01), adjusting for numerous potential confounders. Higher rates of smoking (e.g., >20 cigarettes per day) were associated with higher levels of internalizing behaviors. Maternal smoking during early pregnancy appeared to be the critical period for exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence supporting a potential role for MSDP in increasing internalizing (anxiety and depressive) behaviors in offspring. We also found evidence supportive of a possible causal relationship, including dose-dependency and support for a predominant role of early pregnancy exposure. Further investigation utilizing genetically informed designs are warranted to assess this association