We also computed analyses in which we controlled for the pattern of change in internalizing symptoms when examining relations of change/consistency in externalizing symptoms to dispositional variables (and vice versa). In this way, we tried to identify associations that were not due to co-occurrence of symptoms. For example, if findings of an association between change in internalizing symptoms and anger were primarily due to co-occurring of externalizing problems, then these relations should be eliminated when controlling for change in externalizing problems.
