Childhood Behavioral Profiles Leading to Adolescent Conduct Disorder: Risk Trajectories for Boys and Girls

Abstract

To examine the link between childhood behavioral dimensions and adolescent conduct disorder (CD) among a large sample of boys and girls monitored longitudinally. Teachers rated the behaviors of 1,569 children every year between kindergarten and grade 6. On the basis of these seven yearly ratings, groups of children who followed distinct trajectories on three behavioral dimensions--hyperactivity, fearfulness, and helpfulness--were identified with a semiparametric statistical analysis. Children were then categorized into one of eight behavioral profiles, representing different combinations of the trajectories. Logistic regressions were used to estimate the relation between the profiles and CD in adolescence (mean = 15.7 years). Boys had a significant risk for CD if they were hyperactive (odds ratio [OR] = 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-10.16); hyperactive and unhelpful (OR = 2.83; CI, 1.07-7.46); or hyperactive, fearless, and unhelpful (OR = 3.93; CI, 1.27-12.17). Girls had a significant risk for CD only if they were both hyperactive and unhelpful (OR = 4.61; CI, 1.31-16.24). More boys than girls exhibited profiles of risk and met criteria for CD in adolescence. Sex-specific childhood behavioral profiles that represented risk for CD in adolescence were identified. There were sex differences in the prevalence of the childhood profiles representing risk for CD.