Intergenerational Transmission of Child Problem Behaviors: A Longitudinal, Population-Based Study - 07/08/11
Disclosure: Dr. Verhulst is director and Mr. van der Ende is research psychologist at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center–Sophia Children’s Hospital, which publishes the Dutch translations of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment for Adults and from which they receive remuneration. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.
Abstract |
Objective |
From a developmental perspective, it is important to know to what extent childhood problem behaviors are transmitted across generations. In a longitudinal community study, we compared child behavior of parents with the behavior of their offspring. Intergenerational transmission was investigated for a broad range of problem behaviors, including internalizing problems and externalizing behavior. Sex differences were investigated as well.
Method |
We compared Child Behavior Checklist scores of 4- to 16-year-old children (N = 271) from a community sample assessed in 1983 with Child Behavior Checklist scores of their 6- to 18-year-old offspring (N = 424) who were assessed in 2007. Multilevel modeling was used to test intergenerational associations.
Results |
Most forms of problem behavior in children were predicted by the behavior of their parents as children. Parents’ Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problem scores in childhood all predicted similar problems in their children. Sex differences were found for Delinquent Behavior: continuity was stronger in mothers than it was in fathers, and it was also stronger in sons than in daughters.
Conclusions |
The finding that child behavior continues across generations poses challenges in finding ways to prevent problems from being transmitted across generations.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key Words : intergenerational transmission, child problem behavior, epidemiology
Plan
| This study was supported by the Sophia Foundation of Medical Research. |
Vol 48 - N° 2
P. 138-145 - février 2009 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
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