title: Childhood predictors of military fitness: a prospective, community-based, follow-up study from age 8 to age 18.
abstract: Knowledge of the impact of childhood psychosocial problems on success in military service is scarce. The purpose of the study was to assess whether childhood psychosocial problems are associated with suitability for military service. The subjects were 2,622 Finnish boys born in 1981. They were first assessed with the Rutter parent and teacher questionnaires and self-reports (Children's Depression Inventory) at age 8. Their suitability for military service was assessed at age 18. A wide range of childhood problems, especially internalizing disorders, predicted release from military service. All informants had predictive association with later suitability for military service. The majority of children with psychiatric problems were later estimated to be fit for military service. The results show a predictive association between childhood psychiatric problems and early adult psychosocial impairment, as estimated by the ability to serve in the military forces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Multimäki
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sourander
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikolakaros
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helenius
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aronen
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamminen
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumpulainen
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moilanen
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piha
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parkkola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008889:Military Personnel; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires