Related Experiment Videos
[Prognostic value of early risk indicators. Longitudinal 3-year study of children at risk]
Insights
Early behavioral risk indicators in preschool children can predict later school-age problems. A high-risk group identified at 3 years experienced more health, sleep, and communication issues by age 7.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Context:
- Longitudinal study of 415 Parisian preschool children (1974-1977).
- Utilized four epidemiological questionnaires from 3 to 36 months.
- Focused on familial, social, and developmental factors.
Purpose:
- To identify early behavioral risk indicators in preschool children.
- To assess the predictive value of these indicators for later developmental outcomes.
- To compare a high-risk group with matched controls up to school age.
Summary:
- Cluster analysis of 3-year-old behavior identified three groups, including a 10% "high-risk group."
- High-risk children and controls were followed until age 7.
- Comparisons focused on health, sleep, school, psychosomatic, and communication variables.
Impact:
- Highlights the predictive significance of early behavioral patterns.
- Informs early intervention strategies for at-risk children.
- Contributes to understanding the trajectory of developmental disorders.
Abstract:
Four hundred and fifteen Parisian pre-school children were followed for 3 years (1974-1977). Four epidemiological questionnaires carried out at the ages of 3, 9, 18 and 36 months provided information on the familial and social situation as well as the physical and psychological development of the children. A cluster analysis was carried out on the behaviour variables of the 3 year-old children and 3 different groups were identified. Most children (69%) belonged to the first group, characterized by the absence of difficulties or the presence of few minor symptoms and 10% of the children belonged to the third group, a "high risk group" because of the frequency of the symptoms. Children of the "high risk group" and matched controls were followed up till their school entrance (7 years of age) and compared on different variables: health problems, sleep disorders, school problems, psychosomatic symptoms, difficulties in communicating with others. Comparison between the high risk group and controls permits discussion of the predictive value of early functional disorder risk indicators.