title: Defining the developmental parameters of temper loss in early childhood: implications for developmental psychopathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Temper modulation problems are both a hallmark of early childhood and a common mental health concern. Thus, characterizing specific behavioral manifestations of temper loss along a dimension from normative misbehaviors to clinically significant problems is an important step toward identifying clinical thresholds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parent-reported patterns of temper loss were delineated in a diverse community sample of preschoolers (n = 1,490). A developmentally sensitive questionnaire, the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschool Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB), was used to assess temper loss in terms of tantrum features and anger regulation. Specific aims were: (a) document the normative distribution of temper loss in preschoolers from normative misbehaviors to clinically concerning temper loss behaviors, and test for sociodemographic differences; (b) use Item Response Theory (IRT) to model a Temper Loss dimension; and (c) examine associations of temper loss and concurrent emotional and behavioral problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across sociodemographic subgroups, a unidimensional Temper Loss model fit the data well. Nearly all (83.7%) preschoolers had tantrums sometimes but only 8.6% had daily tantrums. Normative misbehaviors occurred more frequently than clinically concerning temper loss behaviors. Milder behaviors tended to reflect frustration in expectable contexts, whereas clinically concerning problem indicators were unpredictable, prolonged, and/or destructive. In multivariate models, Temper Loss was associated with emotional and behavioral problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parent reports on a developmentally informed questionnaire, administered to a large and diverse sample, distinguished normative and problematic manifestations of preschool temper loss. A developmental, dimensional approach shows promise for elucidating the boundaries between normative early childhood temper loss and emergent psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. lauriew@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Lauren S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wakschlag
authors.forename: Seung W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hullsiek
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leibenluft
authors.forename: Margaret J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Briggs-Gowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires