Abstract
Numerous studies have shown that youth with behavioral disorders (BD) present an increased risk for developing severe and persistent antisocial behaviors in adulthood. Retrospective research notes that not all children and adolescents follow a negative trajectory and explains this heterogeneity in particular by the severity of CU traits. Our study examines how these traits affect the functioning of children and adolescents with BD. Method: A systematic literature review conducted through various databases and using different keywords made it possible to analyze 52 studies published from 2015 to 2020 that measured the bidirectional effects of CU traits on the functioning of young. Results: Out of the 52 studies, 47 analyzed links between CU traits and neurobiological or mental health, 20 examined family and school contexts, eight focused on social adjustment, 10 on social interactions and 19 measured links with cognitive functioning, especially executive functions. Conclusion: Consistent with previous recommendations in the field, our findings emphasize the importance of assessing the presence of UC traits in early childhood to prevent the emergence of comorbid disorders and to target multimodal (early) interventions to influence the life trajectories of youth with high CU traits.
Highlights
Behavioral disorders (BD), including disruptive, aggressive, and/or antisocial behavior, are some of the most common disorders in children and adolescents [1]
The 52 studies included in the review identified CU traits in samples of youth with different behavioral (ODD, conduct disorder (CD)) or neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, ASD)
The purpose of this review was to offer an overall overview of how CU traits influence the dimensions of children and adolescent functioning
Summary
Behavioral disorders (BD), including disruptive, aggressive, and/or antisocial behavior, are some of the most common disorders in children and adolescents [1]. The notion of BD used in our review is an umbrella term, including children and adolescents with a range of emotional and behavioral disorders. It includes a population with heterogeneous behavioral diagnoses such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), internalized disorders (ID), conditions often associated with aggressive and/or antisocial behavior [2]. These patterns place a very significant burden on the individual as well as on society in general. Children with CU traits show a behavioral pattern characterized by a lack of empathy and guilt, insensitivity to others’ feelings, shallow and deficient affect (e.g., lack of emotion recognition, of perspective-taking), unconcern for performance, and the callous use of others for one’s own personal interest [1,6,7,8,9]
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