Implications of Emotional Processing in the Development of Conduct Problems

• Sánchez Vázquez, Carmen ^[1] ; Álvarez Voces, María ^[1] ; Díaz Vázquez, Beatriz ^[1] ; López Romero, Laura ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

     Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

     Santiago de Compostela, España

     
• Localización: Revista de Psicología Clínica con Niños y Adolescentes: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Childhood and Adolescence, ISSN-e 2340-8340, Vol. 13, Nº. 3, 2026, págs. 60-68
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Implicaciones del Procesamiento Emocional en el Desarrollo de los Problemas de Conducta
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Los problemas de conducta se desarrollan en la infancia a través de diferentes trayectorias, algunas de las cuales se asocian a consecuencias más severas, siendo necesario conocer su desarrollo en profundidad para poder prevenirlas y adaptar de forma específica las intervenciones. Para tratar de esclarecer estas trayectorias, en el presente estudio se sigue un diseño longitudinal que incluye cinco momentos de recogida de datos (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) utilizando una muestra de 333 niños (45.3%) en edad escolar (Medad = 10.37; DT = 0.9). Se analiza un modelo predictivo de los problemas de conducta, que incluye variables fisiológicas del procesamiento emocional medidas a través de la reactividad en la actividad electrodérmica, y a través del cual se estudian los efectos del temperamento, la parentalidad, los rasgos de dureza e insensibilidad emocional y la empatía, así como posibles efectos de mediación. Se encontraron efectos directos significativos del bajo miedo (β = .20; p < .001), la inconsistencia parental (β = .17; p < .01) y los rasgos de dureza emocional (β = .29; p < .01) sobre los problemas de conducta, confirmando distintas vías de desarrollo de los problemas de conducta. Además, los resultados sugieren un efecto marginal de la empatía afectiva en la reactividad frente al miedo (β = - .04; p < .06). Finalmente, se discuten las limitaciones e implicaciones prácticas de los resultados, así como posibles direcciones futuras

  • English

    Conduct problems develop during childhood across different trajectories, some of which are associated with more severe consequences, and it is therefore necessary to know their development in depth to improve prevention and tailored interventions. Aiming to clarify these trajectories, the present study follows a longitudinal design that includes five data collection waves (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) in a sample of 333 school-aged children (45.3% girls; Mage = 10.37; SD = 0.9). A predictive model of conduct problems is analyzed, encompassing physiological variables of emotional processing measured through electrodermal reactivity, and through which the effects of temperament, parenting, callous-unemotional traits, and empathy are studied, as well as possible mediation effects. Significant direct effects from fearlessness (β = .20; p < .001), parental inconsistency (β = .17; p < .01), and callous-unemotional traits (β = .29; p < .01) on conduct problems were identified, confirming different developmental pathways of conduct problems. Moreover, the results suggest a marginal effect of affective empathy in fear reactivity (β = - .04; p < .06). Finally, the limitations and practical implications of the findings, as well as possible future directions, are discussed

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