De Relatie tussen Effortful Control en Externaliserend Probleemgedrag bij (Pre)adolescenten

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relation between effortful control and externalizing problem behaviour in (pre)adolescents and to examine the moderating role of gender in this relation. Gender differences in the degree of effortful control and externalizing problem behaviour were also examined. Furthermore, this study investigated whether a difference in the relations between the domains of effortful control (inhibitory control, activation control and attention) and externalizing problem behaviour in (pre)adolescents exists. It is important to examine the moderating role of gender and the differences in the relations between the domains, because interventions can be made more specific to reduce externalizing problem behaviour. A sample of 120 (pre)adolescents (age 8-13) were examined. The scores of effortful control were assessed by the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire Revised and the scores of externalizing problem behaviour by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, both completed by the mothers. It was found that high effortful control was related to less externalizing problem behaviour in (pre)adolescents and that this relation was stronger for boys. No differences were found in the degree of effortful control and externalizing problem behaviour between boys and girls. Also no differences were found between inhibitory control and activation control in the relation with externalizing problem behaviour. Furthermore, no relation between attention and externalizing problem behaviour was found. It is recommended to repeat the research with a clinical sample involved a large sample size, multi-informants and more measuring instruments.