Childhood-onset versus adolescent-onset antisocial conduct problems in males: Natural history from ages 3 to 18 years
Abstract
We report data that support the distinction between childhood-onset and adolescent-onset type conduct problems. Natural histories are described from a representative birth cohort of 457 males studied longitudinally from age 3 to 18 years. Childhood- and adolescent-onset cases differed on temperament as early as age 3 years, but almost half of childhood-onset cases did not become seriously delinquent. Type comparisons were consistent with our contention that males whose antisocial behavior follows a life-course-persistent path differ from males who follow an adolescence-limited path. As adolescents, the two types differed on convictions for violent crime, personality profiles, school leaving, and bonds to family. These differences can be attributed to developmental history because the two groups were well matched on measures of antisocial conduct at age 18 years: parent-reports, self-reports, and adjudication records. By age 18 years, many conduct-problem boys had encountered factors that could ensnare them in an antisocial future: substance dependence, unsafe sex, dangerous driving habits, delinquent friends, delinquent perceptions, and unemployment. Implications for theory, research design, prevention, and therapeutic treatment of conduct problems are highlighted.
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Court records have shown high correlation with self-report of legal involvement.
“Court records have shown high correlation with self-report of legal involvement (Moffitt et al., 1996).”
From Social anxiety and peer helping in adolescent addiction treatment (2015) · cites this paper as Moffitt et al., 1996
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“Court records have shown high correlation with self-report of legal involvement (Moffitt et al., 1996).”
Background
- Authors
- Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., Dickson, N., Silva, P., & Stanton, W.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- University of Otago (NZ)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Moffitt, Terrie E.
- Venue
- Development and Psychopathology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1996
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 399-424
- ISSN
- 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2198
- OpenAlex
- W2136490711
- Cited by
- 965
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 48
- FWCI
- 21.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- natural history (disease), temperament, personality profiles, school leaving, family ties, substance dependence, delinquent peers, unemployment, boys, prevention
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