My Child Likes to be with People: Sociability Trajectories from age 2 to age 4 and Behavior Problems at First Grade

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify early childhood sociability trajectories and examine their longitudinal associations with behavior problems. Using a population-based data set presented by the Panel Study on Korean Children, sociability trajectories from age 2 to age 4 were identified by latent class growth analysis. Associations between sociability trajectories and behavior problems at first grade were examined with binary logistical regressions. Research Findings: Korean children developed one of the three sociability patterns: low (10.059%), moderate (66.185%), or high (23.756%). Children’s behavior problems at first grade differed according to their early sociability trajectories. First graders with the low sociability trajectory in early childhood were vulnerable to internalizing problems, such as affective or anxiety problems. Practice and Policy: A persistent low preference for being with others observed in early childhood can be a meaningful marker in predicting later internalizing behavior problems.

Highlights

• Korean children from age 2 to age 4 developed one of three sociability trajectories: low (10.059%), moderate (66.185%), or high (23.756%).

• Children’s behavior problems rated in first grade differed according to their early childhood sociability trajectories.

• A consistent low preference for being with others observed during early childhood increased the risk of internalizing problems such as affective or anxiety problems at first grade.

• No evidence was found that a high preference in young children for being with others increased the risk of behavior problems.

The potential role of the sociability trajectories in early childhood was highlighted as a specifier of internalizing behavior problems.

Acknowledgments

This study is based on secondary data presented by the Panel Study on Korean Children (https://panel.kicce.re.kr/pskc/index.do).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Informed Consent

This study employed publicly available datasets. An approval by an ethics committee was not applicable.