title: Infant malnutrition predicts conduct problems in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of conduct problems in a well-documented sample of Barbadian adolescents malnourished as infants and a demographic comparison group and to determine the extent to which cognitive impairment and environmental  factors account for this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Behavioral symptoms were assessed using a 76-item self-report scale in 56 Barbadian youth (11-17 years of age) with histories of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) limited to the first year of life and 60 healthy  classmates. Group comparisons were carried out by longitudinal and cross-sectional multiple regression analyses at 3 time points in childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reported conduct problems were more prevalent among previously malnourished youth (P < 0.01).  Childhood IQ and home environmental circumstances partially mediated the association with malnutrition. Teacher-reported classroom behaviors at earlier ages were significantly correlated with youth conduct problems, confirming the continuity of conduct problems through childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported conduct problems are elevated in children and adolescents with histories of early childhood malnutrition. Later vulnerability to increased conduct problems appears to be mediated by the more proximal neurobehavioral effects of the malnutrition on cognitive  function and by adverse conditions in the early home environment.
authors.affiliation: Judge Baker Children's Center, 53 Parker Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02120, USA. jgaller@jbcc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Janina R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Galler
authors.forename: Cyralene P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Bryce
authors.forename: Deborah P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Waber
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hock
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: G David
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Eaglesfield
authors.forename: Garret
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004777:Environment; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires