The development of impulsivity, fearfulness, and helpfulness during childhood: patterns of consistency and change in the trajectories of boys and girls

摘要: Background: The objective of the present study was to describe development boys and girls during elementary-school years on three dimensions that conceptually empirically represent risk for maladjustment. Method: Every year between kindergarten grade six, teachers rated impulsivity, fearfulness, helpfulness among a sample 1,865 children representative in province Quebec (Canada) 1986-87. A group-based trajectory method used 1) identify groups following distinct-level trajectories behaviours (on each dimension) years; 2) estimate proportion identified groups; 3) patterns consistency variations trajectories. Results: results indicated best models comprised fearfulness (a low, moderate, high group) four impulsivity. were generally more stable than impulsivity groups. broad similar across sexes. However, there higher low trajectory, while trajectory. Conclusion: We found behavioural over middle childhood varied dimensions, we sex differences distribution different may reflect gender-specific risks psychopathology.