Conceptualizing Callous-Unemotional Traits from Preschool to Adolescence Through Network Analysis

Abstract Accurately assessing Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits remains a challenge due to inconsistencies in the factor structure of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU). While prior research has debated the validity of two-factor, three-factor, and higher-order models, few studies have examined the developmental structure of CU traits across multiple age groups. This study employs network analysis to explore CU trait organization across preschool aged children (Study 1 aged 5–6), middle childhood (Study 2 age 7–10), and adolescents (Study 3 age 11–19) in a sample of 2,368 participants (ages 5–19). Results reveal both stable and developmentally shifting CU trait structures. Callousness and Uncaring emerged as core dimensions across all age groups, yet preschoolers exhibited a simplified two-factor structure, while children in middle childhood demonstrated a distinct Emotional Disregard community. By adolescence, the network structure consolidated, with heightened prominence of deficits in remorse and empathy. These findings highlight the need for ICU adaptations and tailored interventions, emphasizing emotional expression and social learning in younger children, moral development in middle childhood, and empathy-based cognitive approaches in adolescence. Understanding these developmental shifts can refine CU trait assessments and enhance early intervention strategies.