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Association between behaviour at age 3 years and adult criminality

Centre for Research into Psychological Development, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton

ROBERT GOODMAN, FRCPsych

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK

Correspondence: Professor Jim Stevenson, Centre for Research into Psychological Development, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 IBJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1703 592 583; fax: +44 (0)1703 594 719; e-mail: jsteven{at}psy.soton.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

See editorial, pp. 189–190, this issue.

ABSTRACT

Background The continuity in antisocial behaviour into adulthood from middle childhood is well established but it is not clear whether this is also true of the pre-school period.

Aims To determine whether pre-school behaviour problems increase the risk of later criminal convictions and add to risk associated with family and social circumstances.

Method The records of adult convictions were traced for a general population sample (n=828) initially assessed at age 3 years.

Results The risk of having any adult conviction was related to soiling, daytime enuresis, activity level and management difficulties, and that of having an adult violent offence to recent-onset daytime enuresis, management difficulties and temper tantrums. The only other predictors of later convictions were the child's gender and social competence at age 3 years.

Conclusions The presence of specific behaviour problems in the pre-school period places the child at increased risk of being convicted of an adult offence. Family and social circumstances at age 3 years did not predict later convictions.

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Highlights of this issue

ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2001 179: 0. [Full Text]  

Developmental continuities and discontinuities

RICHARD HARRINGTON
BJP 2001 179: 189-190. [Full Text]  

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