Poverty and behavior problems trajectories from 1.5 to 8 years of age: Is the gap widening between poor and non-poor children?
Poverty has been associated with high levels of behavior problems across childhood, yet patterns of associations over time remain understudied. This study aims: (a) to examine whether poverty predicts changes in behavior problems between 1.5 and 8 years of age; (b) to estimate potential selection bias for the observed associations.



We used the 1998-2006 waves of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (N = 2120). Main outcomes were maternal ratings of hyperactivity, opposition and physical aggression from 1.5 to 8 years of age. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the longitudinal association between poverty and behavior problems. Models were re-estimated adjusting for wave nonresponse and using multiple imputation to account for attrition.



Poverty predicted higher levels of behavior problems between 1.5 and 8 years of age. Poverty predicted hyperactivity and opposition in a time dependent manner. Hyperactivity [Bpoverty*age = 0.052; CI 95 % (0.002; 0.101)] and opposition [Bpoverty*age = 0.049; CI 95 % (0.018; 0.079)] increased at a faster rate up to age 5 years, and then decreased at a slower rate for poor than non-poor children. Physical aggression decreased at a steady rate over time for all children [Bpoverty*age = -0.030; p = 0.064). Estimates remained similar when accounting for attrition.



Poverty predicted higher levels of behavior problems between 1.5 and 8 years of age. The difference between poor and non-poor children was stable over time for physical aggression, but increased with age for hyperactivity and opposition. Attrition among poor children did not compromise the validity of results.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3N 1X9, Canada. julia.rachel.sampaio.elesbao@umontreal.ca.
Julia Rachel S E
JR
Mazza
School of Psychology, University of Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada.|Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation.
Michel
M
Boivin
Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, H2V 2S9, Canada.|School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Richard E
RE
Tremblay
Bordeaux Population Health Center U 1219, University of Bordeaux, Talence, 33400, France.
Gregory
G
Michel
Bordeaux Population Health Center U 1219, University of Bordeaux, Talence, 33400, France.
Julie
J
Salla
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3N 1X9, Canada.
Jean
J
Lambert
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3N 1X9, Canada.
Maria Victoria
MV
Zunzunegui
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3N 1X9, Canada.
Sylvana M
SM
Côté
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011792:Quebec; D013997:Time Factors
Attrition; Hyperactivity; Opposition; Physical aggression; Poverty