Negative Affectivity is Common to Pediatric Behavioral Health Problems

Childhood disorders are frequently characterized dichotomously into internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, co-morbidity is the rule rather than the exception in child psychopathology [1]. Theories that explain comorbidity often focus on the overlap between criteria for disorders and similar etiologies. Negative affectivity is a construct that characterizes multiple disorders [2-5]. More specifically, negative affectivity is seen as a general distress factor marked by a tendency to experience negative emotions such as worry, anxiety, fear, sadness, and guilt [6-8].