Modeling the normal:abnormal spectrum of early childhood internalizing behaviors: A clinical‐developmental approach for the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles Internalizing Dimensions

BACKGROUND: We expanded the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles (MAPS) Scales developmental specification model to characterize the normal:abnormal spectrum of internalizing (anxious and depressive) behaviors in early childhood via the MAPS‐Internalizing (MAPS‐INT) scale. METHODS: The MAPS‐INT item pool was generated based on clinical expertise and prior research. Analyses were conducted on a sub‐sample of families (n = 183) from the diverse When to Worry early childhood sample. RESULTS: Normal:abnormal descriptive patterns for both anxious and depressive behaviors were consistent with prior work: (1) extremes of normative variation are abnormal when very frequent; and (2) pathognomonic indicators that most children do not engage in and are abnormal, even if infrequent. Factor analysis revealed a two‐factor MAPS‐INT Anxious Behaviors structure (Fearful‐Worried and Separation Distress) and a unidimensional MAPS‐INT Depressive Behaviors factor with good fit and good‐to‐excellent test‐retest reliability and validity. CONCLUSIONS: We characterized the normal:abnormal spectrum of internalizing behaviors in early childhood via the MAPS‐INT. Future research in larger representative samples can replicate and extend findings, including clinical thresholds and predictive utility. The MAPS‐INT helps lay the groundwork for dimensional characterization of the internalizing spectrum to advance neurodevelopmental approaches to emergent psychopathology and its earlier identification.