Development of symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder from preschool to adolescence: the role of bullying victimization and emotion regulation

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is associated with adverse outcomes which can continue to impair life well into adulthood. Identifying modifiable etiological factors of ODD is therefore essential. Although bullying victimization and poor emotion regulation are assumed to be risk factors for the development of ODD symptoms, little research has been conducted to test this possibility.MethodsA sample (n = 1,042) from two birth cohorts of children in the city of Trondheim, Norway, was assessed biennially from age 4 to 14 years. Parents and children (from age 8) were assessed with clinical interviews to determine symptoms of ODD, children reported on their victimization from bullying, and teachers reported on children's emotion regulation.ResultsOppositional defiant disorder symptoms increased from age 4 to 6, from age 8 to 10, and then started to wane as children entered adolescence. A Random Intercept Cross‐Lagged Panel Model revealed that increased emotion regulation predicted a reduced number of ODD symptoms across development (β = −.15 to −.13, p < .001). This prediction was equally strong for the angry/irritable and argumentative/defiant dimensions of ODD. No longitudinal links were observed between bullying victimization and ODD symptoms.ConclusionsImproving emotion regulation skills may protect against ODD symptoms throughout childhood and adolescence.