How Early Is Too Early? Identification of Elevated, Persistent Problem Behavior in Childhood.

ABSTRACT: We inquire how early in childhood children most at risk for problematic patterns of internalizing and externalizing behaviors can be accurately classified. Yearly measures of anxiety/depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors (ages 6-13; n = 334), respectively, are used to identify behavioral trajectories. We then assess the degree to which limited spans of yearly information allow for the correct classification into the elevated, persistent pattern of the problem behavior, identified theoretically and empirically as high-risk and most in need of intervention. The true positive rate (sensitivity) is below 70% for anxiety/depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors using behavioral information through ages 6 and 7. Conversely, by age 9, over 90% of the high-risk individuals are correctly

SUBMITTER: Augustyn MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7166148 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature