Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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The current study aimed to investigate whether there were different clusters of behaviour problems in children deemed at risk for developing antisocial behaviour. The expectations were that there...Show moreThe current study aimed to investigate whether there were different clusters of behaviour problems in children deemed at risk for developing antisocial behaviour. The expectations were that there would be at least two clusters, a cluster with only externalizing behaviour problems and a cluster with both internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. Furthermore, it was assessed whether there were group differences on emotion recognition and inhibition. The dataset contained 255 Dutch participants, between the ages five and eighteen (mean age: 11,37 (SD = 2.91); 190 boys and 65 girls). The teacher of the participant filled out Achenbach’s Teacher Report Form (TRF) to assess the behavioural problems. Both vocal and facial emotion recognition tasks were conducted. Furthermore, both hot inhibition (delayed frustration) and cool inhibition (response inhibition) were measured. To evaluate the group differences MANOVA’s were conducted. The results revealed that there were different clusters of behavioural problems. In the younger group two clusters were found, a cluster with less problems and a cluster with more externalizing problems. Three clusters were found in the older group, a cluster with less behavioural problems, a cluster with high externalizing problems, and a small cluster with both internalizing and some externalizing problems. The results also revealed that the participants in the different clusters did not differ in their ability on emotion recognition and inhibition. Concluding it can be stated that the current study found different clusters of behavioural problems in children and adolescents deemed at risk for developing antisocial behaviour. Contrary to expectations, the group with both internalizing and externalizing problems was small in the current dataset. The current research did not find group differences in emotion recognition and inhibition.Show less
