Temperament, CNS problems and maternal stressors: interactive predictors of conduct disorder in 9-yr.-olds

Conduct disorder in a sample of 565 9-yr.-olds, half of whom were 'at risk' at birth was best predicted by a combination of CNS disorder, difficult temperament at age 2, maternal stressors, chronic poverty, and child's separation from a parent. Qualitative study of interactive effects in the data confirms the New York Longitudinal Study's concept of 'spiralling up' and 'spiralling down' (disadvantage kindling yet further disadvantage, with poor behavioural outcomes in child).