In summary, the findings in this study are consistent with the view that children’s dispositional characteristics contribute to, and are at least associated with, externalizing and internalizing problems. In addition, the findings indicate that it is useful to differentiate between EC and impulsivity and to consider whether externalizing and internalizing symptoms are co-occurring. Strengths of this study include its longitudinal and multireporter design. Weaknesses include the use of few behavioral measures of the predictors, the use of a sample of convenience, and the fact that it is impossible to conduct a strong test of causality with correlational data. Moreover, because unregulated children tended to be those who dropped out of the study, the results may be somewhat biased. The findings obtained also may not generalize to children from high-risk families and neighborhoods and children from some minority groups or cultures.
