title: The development of concern for others in children with behavior problems.
abstract: The development of concern for others and externalizing problems were examined in young children with normative, subclinical, or clinical levels of behavior problems. There were no group differences in observable concern for others at 4-5 years of age. Children with clinical behavior problems decreased significantly in their concern by 6-7 years of age and were reported to have less concern at 6-7 years by mothers, teachers, and the children themselves, relative to other groups. Boys with clinical problems were more callous to others' distress at both time points. Girls showed more concern than boys across risk, time, and measures. Greater concern at 4-5 years predicted decreases in the stability and severity of externalizing problems by 6-7 years, and greater concern at 6-7 years predicted decreases in the stability of problems by 9-10 years. Finally, maternal socialization approaches predicted later concerned responding.
authors.affiliation: National Insts of Health.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zahn-Waxler
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Usher
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012951:Socialization