Early predictors of the childhood dysregulation profile from ages 5 to 8: evidence from the UK household study

Abstract Childhood dysregulation profile (DP) involves co-occurring difficulties regulating emotions, behaviour and cognitions, and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, its early predictors are not well understood. We examined child- and family-related predictors of borderline and clinical DP symptoms at ages 5 and 8 years. Participants were 3,467 children from the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Parents reported on early child-related factors (infant regulatory problems, age 3 temperament and screen media use), prenatal exposures (smoking, alcohol) and postnatal family factors (parental psychological distress, stimulating home environment), and DP symptoms at ages 5 and 8 years. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of borderline and clinical DP symptoms and their persistence over time. Negative affect at age 3 predicted borderline and clinical DP symptoms at ages 5 and 8 years, as well as symptom persistence. Other child-related predictors included impulsivity, impatience and irregularity, whereas family-related factors were not consistent predictors. These findings highlight the role of child temperament, particularly negative affect, in the development and persistence of dysregulation symptoms. Early identification of temperament-based risk factors may support targeted interventions to strengthen children’s self-regulation skills before dysregulation difficulties become more persistent and difficult to modify.