Designating distinct pathways leading to the development of conduct problems in children and adolescents

• Main Author: Christian, Rachel Elizabeth
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1999
• Subjects: Behavioral psychology; Behaviorial sciences; Clinical psychology; Developmental psychology; Psychotherapy
• ISBN: 0599618574; 9780599618572

Recent research has suggested two etiological pathways toward antisocial behavior in boys, a childhood-onset (or “life-course persistent”) pathway and an adolescent-onset (or “adolescence-limited”) pathway. The main prediction from this study was that three pathways toward antisocial behavior in boys exist, and that each pathway would be characterized by different correlates. This prediction was tested in a sample of 133 clinic- and court-referred male children and adolescents. Although the results of the study were somewhat mixed, some evidence was found to support the proposed three pathway model. Several “traditional” risk factors toward delinquency were found to relate differently to Conduct Disorder (CD) symptoms displayed by young boys without callous-unemotional (CU) traits, young boys with CU traits, and adolescent boys. These risk factors included ADHD symptoms, dysfunctional parenting, Verbal IQ, and delinquent peer involvement. For adolescents, the relation between CD symptoms and non-traditional attitudes was also tested. While these results need replication, this study is an important first step in validating the proposed model of three distinct pathways leading to conduct problems in male children and adolescents.