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13-04-2022 | Original Contribution

Offspring irritability: associations with parental psychopathology and personality

Authors: Leah K. Sorcher, Rebekah J. Mennies, Mackenzie Robeson, John R. Seeley, Daniel N. Klein, Lea R. Dougherty, Thomas M. Olino

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 9/2023

Abstract

Although there are well-established correlates and outcomes of irritability, there are fewer studies reporting on predictors of the longitudinal course of irritability in youth. The current report examined parent internalizing and externalizing psychopathology and dimensions of personality as predictors of the developmental course of irritability in youth. Offspring irritability was assessed between ages 2 and 10 years using the Irritability Factor from the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (N = 570, 53.51% female). Parental psychopathology was assessed with a clinical interview; parents also completed the General Temperament Survey as a measure of personality. Results demonstrated that offspring irritability decreased with age. Offspring irritability was associated with parental depressive and anxiety disorders, higher levels of negative emotionality/neuroticism (NE) and disinhibition, and lower levels of positive emotionality; parental NE and disinhibition remained unique predictors of offspring irritability in a multivariate model. Finally, parental externalizing disorders were associated with more stable trajectories of offspring irritability, whereas offspring of parents without a history of externalizing disorders showed decreasing irritability across time. Findings demonstrate that different aspects of parental personality and psychopathology have differential impacts on levels and course of offspring irritability.

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Title: Offspring irritability: associations with parental psychopathology and personality
Authors: Leah K. Sorcher
Rebekah J. Mennies
Mackenzie Robeson
John R. Seeley
Daniel N. Klein
Lea R. Dougherty
Thomas M. Olino
Publication date: 13-04-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 9/2023
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-01985-w

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Offspring irritability: associations with parental psychopathology and personality

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