Moreover, when we examined the relations of stability/change in externalizing problems with T3 EC and impulsivity (controlling for T1 levels of EC or impulsivity so that change in patterns could be examined), patterns that were consistent with expectations were found. Movement from nonexternalizing to externalizing status over time (deteriorating; D), compared with stable low externalizing (SL) status, was predicted by low EC and somewhat high impulsivity; this might be partly due to Ds being higher than SLs in externalizing at T1. Although children who moved from an externalizing to low externalizing status (IMs) did not differ from children who were never high in externalizing problems in these analyses (when T1 levels of temperamental predictors were controlled), IM versus D or stably high externalizing (SE) status was predicted by high EC and low impulsivity. When we controlled for change in internalizing status, this general pattern of findings for EC was still evident. Thus, children who improved in regard to EXT problems, as well as children who never experienced them, appeared to be relatively high in EC and low in impulsivity at
