The literature on children's externalizing behavior problems has emphasized the necessity of describing the origin and evolution of this kind of behavior. This study aims to compare continuities and changes in children with externalizing behavior problems and their families emphasizing the child cognitive profile, parental stress, quality of family relationships. Seven preschool children who were living with biological parents, or the mother and stepfather, or just one parent were selected to participate. The data about cognitive evaluation was collected with children and a questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, a parental stress scale were administered to their parents, in two times in a year. The results show an improvement on the children's cognitive profile; changes in the parents'/stepfather's perception about children's personal characteristics, ways of life, and the quality of family relationships; and stabilities in the parental stress index. It is necessary to implement longitudinal research to better understanding the evolution of externalizing behaviors.
family; preschool children; externalizing behavior problems; parental relationship; parental stress
