Overcontrolled: temperamental, internalizing problems and executive functioning in preschool children.

Introduction: Overcontrolled temperament (Block and Block, 1980) is characterized by high ego-control, low ego-resiliency, rigidity, shyness, behaviorally and emotionally inhibition (Huey & Weisz, 1997; Lynch, 2018). Previous research highlights the relationship between overcontrol and socio-emotional problems (Van Leeuwen et al., 2004) and difficulties in the executive functions (Gilbert et al. 2020). The aims of this study were (1) to explore the correlation between overcontrolled temperament and internalizing problems, and (2) to analyze the relations with executive functions in Italian preschool children. Method: Parents of 140 children (F=82; M=58; aged 32-85) completed the following questionnaires: The Overcontrol in Youth Checklist (OCYC; Gilbert et al. 2020), The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997), The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-P; Gioia et al., 2003). We have conducted: ANOVA to explore gender differences; correlations between variables. Results: Results showed significant gender differences in favor of girls in low intensity pleasure (F1,119=9,45; p=.003), shyness (F1,118 4,69; p=.032) and sadness (F1,117 =5,76; p=.018). Children with higher inflexibility/frustration have higher internalization problems (r=,25), in particular for emotional symptoms (r=,27), more prosocial behavior (r=-,21) and higher scores in problems with executive functions (tau-b=,40) in particular for inhibitory self-control, flexibility and emergent metacognition. Conclusion: This is the first study that is implemented with the Italian Translation of OCYS. Our results are consistent with the literature about overcontrolled temperament, but, as a new results, they underline the important role of inflexibility. Our further interest is to analyze the relation between the temperamental inflexibility and the executive ability of shift