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Relation between intelligence and psychopathology among preschoolers
K R Dietz1, J V Lavigne, R Arend
1Children's Memorial Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA.
Journal of Clinical Child Psychology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Lower IQ scores in young children are linked to psychopathology. Early identification of intellectual deficits in preschoolers may prevent future school and mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychopathology
Background:
- Understanding the relationship between intelligence and psychopathology in early childhood is crucial for timely intervention.
- Previous research suggests a link between lower intelligence and psychopathology in older children and clinical samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between intelligence (IQ) and psychopathology in a nonclinical sample of young children (ages 2-5).
- To determine if different IQ measures predict different aspects of psychopathology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantitative (Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]) and taxonomic (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-III-R]) measures for psychopathology.
- Administered IQ tests, including the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the Bayley Scales of Mental Development.
- Analyzed data from 510 nonclinical children aged 2 to 5 years.
Main Results:
- Lower scores on the McCarthy Scales (general, verbal, perceptual-performance) were associated with various forms of psychopathology, consistent with findings in older children.
- These associations were also observed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) diagnostic data.
- Bayley Scale IQ scores did not predict Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) psychopathology or DSM-III-R Disruptive Disorders but did predict the presence of a DSM-III-R diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that lower intellectual functioning in preschoolers is linked to psychopathology.
- Early identification of intellectual deficits in children aged 3-5 may be a key strategy for preventing later academic and severe mental health problems.