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Grundlagen

Callous-unemotional Traits: Verhaltensprobleme und prosoziales Verhalten bei Kindergartenkindern

Published Online:June 04, 2012https://doi.org/10.1026/0942-5403/a000080

Abstract

Callous-unemotional Traits (CU-Traits) stellen in der emotionalen Entwicklung Abweichungen dar, wie mangelnde Empathie oder ein oberflächlicher Affekt und gehören zu den Kernmerkmalen der Psychopathy. Aus einer entwicklungspsychopathologischen Sichtweise wird in der vorliegenden Studie untersucht, ob diese affektiven Merkmale bereits bei Kindern im Kindergartenalter zu identifizieren sind und sie mit Verhaltensproblemen, besonders mit externalisierenden Verhaltensproblemen, im Zusammenhang stehen. Anhand einer Stichprobe mit 311 Kindern (durchschnittlich 5;0 Jahre) wird die Anzahl der Kinder mit Callous-unemotional-Traits (CU-Traits), erfasst mit dem „Antisocial Process Screening Device“ (APSD), identifiziert. Es werden quer- und längsschnittliche Zusammenhange zwischen CU-Traits und Erlebens- und Verhaltensprobleme (SDQ) dargestellt. 23,3 % der Kinder weisen erhöhte Werte auf der Skala CU-Traits auf. Jüngere Kinder erreichen höhere Werte, so dass normative Entwicklungseinflüsse nahe gelegt werden. Es zeigen sich eindeutige Beziehungen zwischen CU-Traits und Verhaltensproblemen sowie negative Korrelationen zu prosozialem Verhalten. In der längsschnittlichen Analyse über ein Jahr erweisen sich CU-Traits als Prädiktor für Verhaltensprobleme. Ein spezifischer Zusammenhang zwischen aggressivem Verhalten und CU-Traits kann nicht aufgezeigt werden. CU-Traits stehen besonders mit einem Defizit prosozialen Verhaltens in Verbindung. Es wird diskutiert, ob CU-Traits bei jungen Kindern dazu geeignet sind, aggressive Kinder frühzeitig zu identifizieren.


Callous-unemotional traits: Behavioral problems und prosocial behavior in kindergarten children

In emotional development, callous-unemotional traits (CU-traits) which belong to the core traits of psychopathology, identify deviations such as lack of empathy or a superficial affect. This study examines whether these affective traits can be identified in children of kindergarten age and whether there is a association with behavior problems, especially with externalizing behavior problems. A sample of 311 children (average age: 5.0 years) was examined by the “Antisocial Process Screening Device” (ASPD) to assess the number of children with callous-unemotional traits (CU-traits). Longitudinal und cross-sectional connections between CU-traits and behavior problems (SDQ) are presented. 23.3 % of children show increased values on the scale CU-traits. Younger children achieve higher values thus normative developmental influences can be suggested. A clear correlation between CU-traits and behavior problems as well as negative correlations with prosocial behavior can be found. The longitudinal analysis (duration one year) revealed that CU-traits can be considered as a predictor for behavior problems. A specific connection between aggressive behavior and CU-traits cannot be presented. However, CU-traits are associated with a deficit in prosocial behavior. The issue whether CU-traits of young children are suitable to identify aggressive children at an early stage is discussed.

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