ORCID
https://orcid.org/https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7613-8442
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Psychology (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Tamara Del Vecchio
Second Advisor
Raymond DiGiuseppe
Third Advisor
Kätlin Peets
Abstract
The current study is the first to apply Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) to examine short-term stability and change in toddlers’ physical aggression and prosocial behavior, using a person-centered, longitudinal approach to capture behavioral heterogeneity and stability during a critical developmental period. Mothers of 333 toddlers (18 or 24 months at Time 1; 21 or 27 months at Time 2) completed reports of provoked and unprovoked aggression, prosocial behaviors (helping, sharing, comforting), temperament, and parenting practices. Four profiles emerged consistently across time: High Aggression / Low Prosocial, Low Aggression / Average Prosocial, Low Aggression / High Prosocial, and Average Aggression / Very Low Prosocial. Behavioral profiles demonstrated high stability (≥87%) over time, suggesting early consolidation of behavioral patterns. When transitions did occur, they were rare and reflected transitions toward more adaptive profiles. Parenting and temperament traits significantly predicted initial membership to behavioral profiles at Time 1. Findings highlight early-emerging, relatively stable patterns of aggression and prosociality during toddlerhood, underscoring the importance of early identification and preventive interventions to support adaptive social-emotional development. These results can guide pediatricians as they educate and counsel parents about their child's social behavior across toddlerhood.
Recommended Citation
Schieffelin, Annette, "LATENT TRANSITION ANALYSIS OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND PHYSICAL AGGRESSION IN TODDLERHOOD" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 1004.
https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/1004