Adults' perceptions of of internalizing and externalizing behaviours in preschoolers

Across the lifespan, females are more likely to experience internalizing problems while males are more likely to experience externalizing problems. Recent theories in developmental psychopathology suggest that early gender role socialization by parents may play a role in creating these gender differences. The current study examined parents’ level of concern regarding a wide range of internalizing and externalizing behaviours in descriptions of a hypothetical four-year-old boy or girl. Parents’ sex role attitudes were also examined. Results indicated that parents did not differentially respond to boys and girls and that sex role attitudes did not affect this relationship. Both mothers and fathers rated externalizing behaviours as more concerning than internalizing behaviours for both boys and girls. This was notable given that clinical psychology graduate students specializing in child development rated the internalizing and externalizing behaviours as equally concerning. Implications for referral of internalizing problems to mental health services are discussed.