Disruptive behavior in childhood and socioeconomic position in adulthood: a prospective study over 27 years

We examined whether childhood disruptive behavior (aggressiveness, hyperactivity and social adjustment), predicts adulthood socioeconomic position (SEP), i.e., educational level, occupational status and income and social mobility.

Social mobility was defined by comparing the participants' adulthood socioeconomic position with that of their parents ("intergenerational social mobility"). The subjects were derived from a population-based cohort study (N = 3,600) and our sample consisted of 782 participants (403 women) aged 3-9 years at baseline and were followed until they were aged 30-36.

High childhood aggression associated with low educational level and occupational status suggesting an early beginning negative tracking of aggressive behavior. High hyperactivity and poor social adjustment predicted adulthood low occupational status proposing a more slow effect on adulthood SEP. No associations between disruptive behavior and income-related mobility were found, but high hyperactivity associated with educational downward drift, whereas high aggression and low social adjustment related with occupational downward drift.

Results suggest that childhood disruptive behavior may have long-lasting negative effects. In order to reduce the adverse effects of disruptive behavior, early intervention of problematic behavior becomes salient.