Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour?

Perren, Sonja; Stadelmann, Stephanie; von Wyl, Agnes; von Klitzing, Kai

doi:10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour?
Authors:	Perren, Sonja Stadelmann, Stephanie von Wyl, Agnes von Klitzing, Kai
DOI:	10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6
Published in:	European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume(Issue):	16
Issue:	4
Page(s):	209
Pages to:	214
Issue Date:	Jun-2007
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Springer
ISSN:	1018-8827 1435-165X
Language:	English
Subjects:	Kindergarten age; Behavioural/emotional symptom; Pro-social behaviour; Multi-informant data
Subject (DDC):	158: Applied psychology 616.89: Mental disorders, clinical psychology and psychiatry 618.92: Pediatrics
Abstract:	The study investigated the predictive value of pro-social behaviour for developmental pathways of behavioural and emotional problems at kindergarten age. One hundred and sixty children participated in the study at the ages of 5 and 6. Teachers and parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; children completed the Berkeley Puppet Interview at both assessment points. Single-informant data were aggregated to enhance the reliability and validity of data. Gender and parental educational status were controlled. Symptoms (conduct problems, hyperactivity and emotional symptoms) and pro-social behaviour were moderately stable over time. Compared to girls, boys showed higher levels and increases of conduct problems and hyperactivity and lower levels of pro-social behaviour. Lower parental educational level was associated with higher levels and increases in hyperactivity. Although pro-social behaviour was cross-sectionally associated with behavioural and emotional symptoms, pro-social behaviour did not predict changes in conduct problems or hyperactivity over time. However, children with above average emotional symptoms and above average pro-social behaviour at Age_5 showed the highest level of emotional symptoms at Age_6. The results indicate that low levels of pro-social behaviour are associated with children’s externalising behaviour problems, but that for children with high levels of emotional symptoms, higher levels of pro-social behaviour should also be considered as a risk factor. In sum, our results suggest mainly homotypic pathways of internalising and externalising symptoms across kindergarten age, but indicate that the assessment of pro-social behaviour yields additional information regarding the developmental pathways of emotional symptoms.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/3988
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Applied Psychology
Organisational Unit:	Psychological Institute (PI)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Angewandte Psychologie

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Perren, S., Stadelmann, S., von Wyl, A., & von Klitzing, K. (2007). Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 16(4), 209–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6

Perren, S. et al. (2007) ‘Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour?’, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 16(4), pp. 209–214. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6.

S. Perren, S. Stadelmann, A. von Wyl, and K. von Klitzing, “Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour?,” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 209–214, Jun. 2007, doi: 10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6.

PERREN, Sonja, Stephanie STADELMANN, Agnes VON WYL und Kai VON KLITZING, 2007. Pathways of behavioural and emotional symptoms in kindergarten children: what is the role of pro-social behaviour? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Juni 2007. Bd. 16, Nr. 4, S. 209–214. DOI 10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6

Perren, Sonja, Stephanie Stadelmann, Agnes von Wyl, and Kai von Klitzing. 2007. “Pathways of Behavioural and Emotional Symptoms in Kindergarten Children: What Is the Role of Pro-Social Behaviour?” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 16 (4): 209–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6.

Perren, Sonja, et al. “Pathways of Behavioural and Emotional Symptoms in Kindergarten Children: What Is the Role of Pro-Social Behaviour?” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 4, June 2007, pp. 209–14, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0588-6.