Early Childhood Temperament Factors and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Preschool and School Aged- Children: A Systematic Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: There is growing interest in research understanding the individual-specific predictors of child callous-unemotional (CU) traits, particularly in early childhood. Objective: This study reviewed evidence from studies that investigated the relationship between early child temperament factors (between 0 and 3 years) and CU traits in children aged 3 to 13 years. Methods: A systematic search conducted according to PRISMA guidelines yielded 8 peer-reviewed articles. Results: Analysis of the included articles suggested that there was emerging evidence to support links between early temperament factors (particularly, fearlessness and social affiliation) and child CU traits. Conclusions: The results of this review demonstrate the ongoing need for further research to clarify the temperamental profiles of children with CU traits, particularly across fearlessness, social affiliation, and general temperament dimensions. � The Author(s) 2024.