Mapping Dysregulation: Prenatal Predictors and Developmental Trajectories of Multiple Regulatory Problems in Early Childhood

Regulatory problems, defined as excessive crying, sleeping and feeding problems, as well as pronounced sensory sensitivity, pose a significant source of worry and exhaustion for parents. In this study, we investigate the evolvement of multiple regulatory problems up to 3 years of age. We ask whether a range of maternal prenatal risk factors, including poor mental health, substance use, and sociodemographic risks, predict developmental trajectory in dysregulation from 18 months to 3 years. The sample comprises 748 children and their mothers taking part in the prospective longitudinal community-based study Little in Norway. Utilizing latent change score modelling, we found that prenatal risk factors predicted an increase in dysregulation from 18 months to 3 years (β = 0.208, p <.001). This association was moderated by child sex, being stronger for boys (β = 0.229, p <.05) than for girls (β = 0.151, p <.05). A more fine-grained analysis of subscales showed that sensory sensitivity, eating problems and negative emotionality contributed to these effects, whereas sleeping problems were unrelated (p >.05). Results suggest that the association between early risk exposure and child dysregulation may unfold gradually over time. Those born into families with a higher load of prenatal risks are more vulnerable to dysregulation problems extending, or even increasing, into the preschool years.