NCJ Number
204748
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: 2003 Pages: 294-309
Date Published
2003
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined aspects of childhood hyperactive behavior as they relate to alcohol and violent offenses during adulthood.
Abstract
Several prior studies have focused on the life-span perspective to account for antisocial and criminal behavior in adults. Childhood hyperactivity has been identified as closely connected to later problems with alcohol and violent behavior. Other studies have found that the association between childhood hyperactivity and later criminality may be moderated or confounded by other variables, most significantly comorbid conduct disorder. The current study examined the link between childhood hyperactivity and subsequent alcohol problems and violent behavior, controlling for the possible confounding factors of early criminality and aggressive behavior. Data were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study entitled, “Young Lawbreakers as Adults,” which was undertaken in 1956. A sample of 192 lawbreakers between the ages of 11 and 14 years were followed to age 35 years. Participants completed questionnaires measuring aggressive behavior, attention difficulties, motor restlessness, hyperactive behavior, early criminality, drinking offenses, and violent offenses. Results of chi-squared analyses revealed that aspects of childhood hyperactivity were significantly related to adult drinking offenses and violent offending. The component of hyperactivity most predictive of later alcohol and violence problems was identified as attention difficulties. After controlling for possible confounding variables, attention difficulties were significantly associated with later violence among boys displaying early criminality. Early criminality, attention difficulties, and aggressive behavior were all noted as co-occurring in the same individual. Participants who displayed all early behavior problems were seven times more likely to have subsequent drinking offenses or violent offenses than participants with no early behavior problems. Thus, the findings indicate that antisocial and offending behaviors in adulthood are commonly related to complex childhood behavioral difficulties. However, one subgroup of males who displayed attention difficulties but lacked the early manifestation of aggression went on to have problems with violent behavior in adulthood. Limitations of the study include the fact that only males were included in the sample, making generalizations to females problematic. Future studies should examine relationships between specific early behavior problems and later psychosocial health outcomes. Figures, tables, references