Reactive temperament and self-regulation in preschool: Unique constellations impacting psychopathology

Abstract

Reactive temperament traits, such as negative affect and surgency, interact with self-regulatory abilities, including effortful control and executive function, to shape psychopathological symptoms. In a cross-sectional sample of 416 preschool children (M-age = 4.15 years; SD = 0.88; 218 girls), temperament was assessed using the Child Behavior Questionnaire, executive function deficits with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool, performance-based EF with the EF-Touch battery, and psychopathological symptoms with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Moderation analyses revealed no significant interaction effects. However, hierarchical regression analyses conducted separately by age showed age-specific patterns. Reactive traits (Negative Affect, Surgency) were particularly associated with symptoms at age 3, while executive dysfunction became more relevant at ages 4 and 5. Negative affect was most relevant for emotional symptoms in older children, while Surgency predicted ADHD and early conduct problem. Peer problems were least associated with temperament and showed increasing ties to executive dysfunction. The strongest effects were observed for ADHD (R2 = 0.61), followed by emotional symptoms (R2 = 0.45). These findings highlight the importance of considering temperament and self-regulation in combination and in relation to specific symptom domains. This supports dimensional, domain-sensitive models of psychopathology and has implications for individualized prevention and intervention.