Language skills as a predictor of Internalizing Behavior and the potential moderating effects of gender and negative affect

Abstract

Objective: The focus of this study was to investigate the relations between language skills and internalizing behaviour and the potential moderating effects of gender and negative affect. Method: The data were collected using a convenience sample, in which 84 children participated. To measure the receptive vocabulary and the ability to repeat sentences, children were tested with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III-NL (PPVT-III-NL) and Litmus- SRT task. The parents filled out the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Children's Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) or Temperament in Middle Children Questionnaire (TMCQ) to measure internalizing behaviour and negative affect. Results: This study did not find any relations between language skills and internalizing behaviour. The only relation that was found was between internalizing behaviour and negative affect. This relation between internalizing behaviour and negative affect was expected.