TY - JOUR

T1 - The association of early regulatory problems with behavioral problems and cognitive functioning in adulthood

T2 - two cohorts in two countries

AU - Wolke, Dieter

AU - Baumann, Nicole

AU - Jaekel, Julia

AU - Pyhälä, Riikka

AU - Heinonen, Kati

AU - Räikkönen, Katri

AU - Sorg, Christian

AU - Bilgin, Ayten

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

PY - 2023/6

Y1 - 2023/6

N2 - Background: Regulatory problems (RPs; excessive crying, sleeping, or feeding difficulties) that co-occur (i.e., multiple) or are persistent have been associated with cognitive and behavioral problems in childhood. However, it remains unknown if multiple or persistent RPs are associated with cognitive and behavioral problems in adulthood. Methods: This large prospective longitudinal study (N = 759) was conducted in two cohorts in Germany (N = 342) and Finland (N = 417). RPs were assessed at 5, 20, and 56 months via the same standardized parental interviews and neurological examinations. In young adulthood, questionnaires were used to assess behavioral problems. Cognitive functioning was assessed with IQ tests. We examined the effects of multiple or persistent RPs on the outcomes via analysis of covariance tests and logistic regression controlled for the influence of cohort. Results: Of 163 participants with RPs, 89 had multiple and 77 had persistent RPs. Adults who had early multiple or persistent RPs (N = 151) reported more internalizing (p =.001), externalizing (p =.020), and total behavioral problems (p =.001), and, specifically, more depressive (p =.012), somatic (p =.005), avoidant personality (p <.001), and antisocial personality problems (p =.006) than those who never had RPs (N = 596). Participants with multiple or persistent RPs were more likely to receive any ADHD diagnoses (p =.017), particularly of hyperactive/impulsive subtype (p =.032). In contrast, there were no associations between multiple or persistent RPs and IQ scores in young adulthood. Conclusions: The results indicate long-lasting associations between multiple or persistent RPs and behavioral problems. Thus, screening for early RPs could help to identify children who are at risk for later behavioral problems.

AB - Background: Regulatory problems (RPs; excessive crying, sleeping, or feeding difficulties) that co-occur (i.e., multiple) or are persistent have been associated with cognitive and behavioral problems in childhood. However, it remains unknown if multiple or persistent RPs are associated with cognitive and behavioral problems in adulthood. Methods: This large prospective longitudinal study (N = 759) was conducted in two cohorts in Germany (N = 342) and Finland (N = 417). RPs were assessed at 5, 20, and 56 months via the same standardized parental interviews and neurological examinations. In young adulthood, questionnaires were used to assess behavioral problems. Cognitive functioning was assessed with IQ tests. We examined the effects of multiple or persistent RPs on the outcomes via analysis of covariance tests and logistic regression controlled for the influence of cohort. Results: Of 163 participants with RPs, 89 had multiple and 77 had persistent RPs. Adults who had early multiple or persistent RPs (N = 151) reported more internalizing (p =.001), externalizing (p =.020), and total behavioral problems (p =.001), and, specifically, more depressive (p =.012), somatic (p =.005), avoidant personality (p <.001), and antisocial personality problems (p =.006) than those who never had RPs (N = 596). Participants with multiple or persistent RPs were more likely to receive any ADHD diagnoses (p =.017), particularly of hyperactive/impulsive subtype (p =.032). In contrast, there were no associations between multiple or persistent RPs and IQ scores in young adulthood. Conclusions: The results indicate long-lasting associations between multiple or persistent RPs and behavioral problems. Thus, screening for early RPs could help to identify children who are at risk for later behavioral problems.

KW - Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study (AYLS)

KW - Bavarian Longitudinal Study (BLS)

KW - crying

KW - feeding

KW - Regulatory problems

KW - sleeping

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145718697&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.13742

DO - 10.1111/jcpp.13742

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36601777

AN - SCOPUS:85145718697

VL - 64

SP - 876

EP - 885

JO - Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry

JF - Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry

SN - 0021-9630

IS - 6

ER -