title: Girls' childhood trajectories of disruptive behavior predict adjustment problems in early adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is widely recognized that early onset of disruptive behavior is linked to a variety of detrimental outcomes in males, later in life. In contrast, little is known about the association between girls' childhood trajectories of disruptive behavior and adjustment problems in early adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used nine waves of data from the ongoing Pittsburgh Girls Study. A semiparametric group-based model was used to identify trajectories of disruptive behavior in 1,513 girls from age 6 to 12 years. Adjustment problems were characterized by depression, self-harm, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance use, interpersonal aggression, sexual behavior, affiliation with delinquent peers, and academic achievement at ages 13 and 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three trajectories of childhood disruptive behavior were identified: low, medium, and high. Girls in the high group were at increased risk for depression, self-harm, PTSD, illegal substance use, interpersonal aggression, early and risky sexual behavior, and lower academic achievement. The likelihood of multiple adjustment problems increased with trajectories reflecting higher levels of disruptive behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Girls following the high childhood trajectory of disruptive behavior require early intervention programs to prevent multiple, adverse outcomes in adolescence and further escalation in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium-Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Molen
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NWO-NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan A J
authors.initials: AAJ
authors.lastname: Blokland
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Alison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hipwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium-Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert R J M
authors.initials: RRJM
authors.lastname: Vermeiren
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo A H
authors.initials: TAH
authors.lastname: Doreleijers
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loeber
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000067404:Social Communication Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Girls; adjustment problems; disruptive behavior; trajectories