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Childhood Behavioral Inhibition and Overcontrol: Risk for Psychiatric and Peer Outcomes

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Title: Childhood Behavioral Inhibition and Overcontrol: Risk for Psychiatric and Peer Outcomes
Language: English
Authors: Molly Fennig Steinhoff (ORCID 0000-0002-8402-0492), Ella Sudit (ORCID 0000-0002-3449-6185), Nathan A. Fox (ORCID 0000-0003-4452-4503), Rebecca Tillman, Max P. Herzberg (ORCID 0000-0003-3177-7966), Deanna M. Barch (ORCID 0000-0003-1693-8506), Joan L. Luby (ORCID 0000-0001-5352-1721), Kirsten Gilbert (ORCID 0000-0001-9367-6621)
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(6):1250-1262.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: K23MH115074
R01MH126984
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Child Behavior, Inhibition, Personality Traits, Anxiety, Peer Relationship, Anxiety Disorders, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Child Development
Geographic Terms: Missouri (Saint Louis)
DOI: 10.1037/dev0002042
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: Behavioral inhibition (BI), a temperamental trait; the error-related negativity (ERN), a marker of performance monitoring measured via electroencephalogram; and overcontrol, a phenotype characterized by perfectionism and inflexibility, all show associations with childhood anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and social functioning. However, the independent and combined risk for psychiatric and social functioning of these factors is unknown. The present study examined how childhood BI, ERN, and overcontrol independently predict longitudinal psychiatric symptoms and peer functioning. We then examined how overcontrol may mediate the relationship between BI and longitudinal outcomes, as well as how the ERN may moderate this mediation. Caregivers completed baseline (aged 5-6 years; 48% female; 77% White) measures of BI, overcontrol, and psychiatric and peer functioning (N = 123), and children completed a go/no-go task while an electroencephalogram was collected (n = 86). Two years later, parents completed measures of psychiatric symptoms and peer functioning. Findings demonstrated only overcontrol, not BI or ERN, predicted worsening anxiety and peer relations. Overcontrol mediated the relationship between BI and longitudinal anxiety and between BI and longitudinal peer functioning. The ERN did not moderate these mediations. Findings suggest overcontrol confers risk for worsening childhood psychiatric and peer outcomes and may be an understudied mechanism linking BI to these outcomes. Therefore, early identification of the overcontrolled phenotype may be important given its direct association with an exacerbation of psychiatric and peer functioning difficulties across a 2-year period. Moreover, overcontrol may be a clinically useful and potent target for childhood psychiatric and social problems.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505563
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Childhood Behavioral Inhibition and Overcontrol: Risk for Psychiatric and Peer Outcomes
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Molly+Fennig+Steinhoff%22">Molly Fennig Steinhoff</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8402-0492">0000-0002-8402-0492</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ella+Sudit%22">Ella Sudit</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3449-6185">0000-0002-3449-6185</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nathan+A%2E+Fox%22">Nathan A. Fox</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4452-4503">0000-0003-4452-4503</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebecca+Tillman%22">Rebecca Tillman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Max+P%2E+Herzberg%22">Max P. Herzberg</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3177-7966">0000-0003-3177-7966</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deanna+M%2E+Barch%22">Deanna M. Barch</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1693-8506">0000-0003-1693-8506</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joan+L%2E+Luby%22">Joan L. Luby</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5352-1721">0000-0001-5352-1721</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirsten+Gilbert%22">Kirsten Gilbert</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9367-6621">0000-0001-9367-6621</externalLink>)
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)<br />National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inhibition%22">Inhibition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personality+Traits%22">Personality Traits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety+Disorders%22">Anxiety Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms+%28Individual+Disorders%29%22">Symptoms (Individual Disorders)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Missouri+%28Saint+Louis%29%22">Missouri (Saint Louis)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0002042
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
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  Data: Behavioral inhibition (BI), a temperamental trait; the error-related negativity (ERN), a marker of performance monitoring measured via electroencephalogram; and overcontrol, a phenotype characterized by perfectionism and inflexibility, all show associations with childhood anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and social functioning. However, the independent and combined risk for psychiatric and social functioning of these factors is unknown. The present study examined how childhood BI, ERN, and overcontrol independently predict longitudinal psychiatric symptoms and peer functioning. We then examined how overcontrol may mediate the relationship between BI and longitudinal outcomes, as well as how the ERN may moderate this mediation. Caregivers completed baseline (aged 5-6 years; 48% female; 77% White) measures of BI, overcontrol, and psychiatric and peer functioning (N = 123), and children completed a go/no-go task while an electroencephalogram was collected (n = 86). Two years later, parents completed measures of psychiatric symptoms and peer functioning. Findings demonstrated only overcontrol, not BI or ERN, predicted worsening anxiety and peer relations. Overcontrol mediated the relationship between BI and longitudinal anxiety and between BI and longitudinal peer functioning. The ERN did not moderate these mediations. Findings suggest overcontrol confers risk for worsening childhood psychiatric and peer outcomes and may be an understudied mechanism linking BI to these outcomes. Therefore, early identification of the overcontrolled phenotype may be important given its direct association with an exacerbation of psychiatric and peer functioning difficulties across a 2-year period. Moreover, overcontrol may be a clinically useful and potent target for childhood psychiatric and social problems.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1505563
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        Value: 10.1037/dev0002042
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 1250
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inhibition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Personality Traits
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      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
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      – SubjectFull: Peer Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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      – SubjectFull: Child Development
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      – SubjectFull: Missouri (Saint Louis)
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      – TitleFull: Childhood Behavioral Inhibition and Overcontrol: Risk for Psychiatric and Peer Outcomes
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