Structure of problem behaviors in preadolescence.
Earlier research suggests that diverse adolescent problem behaviors, such as substance use, school problems, early sexual intercourse, and delinquency, reflect a single underlying dimension of behavior. Data from an ongoing longitudinal study were used to examine this issue in a previously unexamined sample (N = 426) of preadolescent sixth-grade youth. Ss included boys and girls from diverse socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds, whose average ages were 11 and 12. By using confirmatory factor analyses to test competing models, multiple factor structures were detected, suggesting that earlier findings supporting a single factor conceptualization may not be generalizable to this age group. Implications of the finding that problem behaviors may be more differentiated in late childhood than in adolescence are discussed.
Gillmore
M R
MR
Social Development Research Group, University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle 98103.
Hawkins
J D
JD
Catalano
R F
RF
Day
L E
LE
Moore
M
M
Abbott
R
R
D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology