Association between behaviour at age 3 years and adult criminality.
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.


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


METHODS
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.
Stevenson
J
J
Centre for Research into Psychological Development, Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK. jsteven@psy.soton.ac.uk
Goodman
R
R
D000328:Adult; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003415:Crime; D004775:Enuresis / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012923:Social Class