Callous-Unemotional Traits from Childhood to Adolescence

Abstract: Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are characteristics associated with an elevated risk for antisocial behavior and reduced empathy. While parenting has been identified as a key environmental influence on CU traits, less is known about how these associations vary across developmental stages. This study investigated the association of parental warmth and harshness on CU traits in preschoolers, middle school children, and adolescents. Using path models, we assessed CU traits via the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU), with parental behaviors as predictors and age and gender as covariates. The results indicated that parental warmth was consistently negatively associated with CU traits across all age groups, though the strength of associations varied developmentally. Harsh parenting was significantly linked to callousness only in preschoolers, suggesting age-specific sensitivity. Gender differences were observed, with boys scoring higher on CU traits throughout development. These findings highlight the enduring protective role of parental warmth and suggest early childhood as a critical period for interventions targeting harsh parenting practices.