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Continuity of behavioral and emotional problems from pre-school years to pre-adolescence in a developing country

Luciana Anselmi1, Fernando C Barros, Maycoln L M Teodoro

  • 1Post-Graduate Program in Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. luanselmi@terra.com.br

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|March 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Childhood behavioral and emotional problems show moderate continuity into pre-adolescence. Externalizing behaviors at age 4 are key predictors of later issues, similar to findings in developed nations.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Epidemiology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Longitudinal studies on child behavioral/emotional problems have historically focused on developed nations.
  • This study addresses a gap by examining such continuity in a developing country context.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the longitudinal continuity and stability of child behavioral/emotional problems from preschool to pre-adolescence.
  • To identify predictors of persistent behavioral/emotional problems.

Main Methods:

  • A Brazilian birth cohort of 601 children was assessed at ages 4 and 12.
  • The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was administered via mother interview using a standardized procedure.

Main Results:

  • Moderate stability (r = .42) was observed for the CBCL Total Problem score, with externalizing problems showing higher continuity than internalizing problems.
  • Only 31% of children with deviant scores at age 4 remained deviant at age 12.
  • Rule-Breaking Behavior and Social Problems at age 4 predicted deviant scores at age 12.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood behavioral/emotional problems exhibit moderate persistence into pre-adolescence within a community sample.
  • Externalizing problems in early childhood are significant precursors to later behavioral/emotional issues.
  • Findings align with those from developed countries regarding continuity, stability, and predictability.
Abstract

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