NCJ Number
207779
Date Published
2001
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews data on the epidemiology of problem behavior by children under 13 years old.
Abstract
The chapter first reviews the prevalence of problem behavioral symptoms as reported by parent and teacher samples of informants. The individual symptoms at issue are oppositional (disobedience, temper displays, argumentative, frequent teasing, etc.); conduct (aggression, fights, bullying, threats); property offenses; hyperactivity; and emotional maladjustment. Parent and teacher reports indicate that symptom frequency varies widely by gender, age, informant, and symptom complex. Findings suggest that the identification of multiple symptoms is required for diagnosing a child at high-risk for subsequent delinquency. The chapter's second section presents data on selected correlates of symptom prevalence, namely, age, gender, single-parent versus two-parent status, and income level. The third section of the chapter presents information on the prevalence of conduct disorders according to type of informant, as well as comorbidity. The fourth section considers the extent to which it is possible to predict serious antisocial behavior at age 12 or 13 from symptom patterns identified a number of years earlier. The chapter's concluding section discusses the policy implications of the previous findings and key research issues for exploration. The findings suggest the importance of obtaining information on a child from more than one informant and presenting the results separately by informant source. Data must also be distinguished and compared by gender, age, and subgroups of conduct problems. Behavioral ratings based on checklists must be validated, with observational data used to provide an independent source for assessing the validity of checklist responses. Other suggestions for improving the reliability of checklists are offered. 6 tables and 8 figures