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Parsing between- and within-person effects: Longitudinal associations between irritability and internalizing and externalizing problems from early childhood through adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2021

Emma Chad-Friedman ,
Maria M. Galano Open the ORCID record for Maria M. Galano [Opens in a new window] ,
Edward P. Lemay ,
Thomas M. Olino Open the ORCID record for Thomas M. Olino [Opens in a new window] ,
Daniel N. Klein  and
Lea R. Dougherty Open the ORCID record for Lea R. Dougherty [Opens in a new window]
Emma Chad-Friedman
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Maria M. Galano
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA
Edward P. Lemay
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Thomas M. Olino
Affiliation:
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Daniel N. Klein
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, New York, USA
Lea R. Dougherty*
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
*
Corresponding author: Lee R. Dougherty, email: ldougher@umd.edu
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Abstract

Introduction:

This report examines between- and within-person associations between youth irritability and concurrent and prospective internalizing and externalizing symptoms from early childhood through adolescence. Distinguishing between- and within-person longitudinal associations may yield distinct, clinically relevant information about pathways to multifinality from childhood irritability.

Methods:

Children’s irritability and co-occurring symptoms were assessed across five waves between ages 3 and 15 years using the mother-reported Child Behavior Checklist (N = 605, 46% female). Parental history of depressive disorders was assessed with a clinical interview.

Results:

Results demonstrated that between- and within-person irritability were uniquely associated with concurrent depressive, anxiety, and defiance symptoms, but not ADHD. Prior wave within-person irritability also predicted next wave depressive, anxiety, and defiance symptoms, controlling for prior symptoms; these prospective associations were bidirectional. Child sex and parental depressive disorders moderated associations.

Discussions:

Findings identify pathways from within- and between-person irritability to later internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Results demonstrate the importance of parsing within- and between-person effects to understand nuanced relations among symptoms over childhood.

Keywords

between-person effectschildhood irritabilityexternalizing problemsinternalizing problemswithin-person effects
Type
Regular Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , August 2023 , pp. 1371 - 1381
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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