Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prediction of Behavioral Problems in Chilean Schoolchildren

  • Published:
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Five hundred and thirty five Chilean schoolchildren were evaluated with a test–retest procedure using teacher and parent questionnaires in first and sixth grade, respectively, and a measure of self- esteem in sixth grade. According to teachers’ ratings, disobedience/aggression, shyness and hyperactivity persisted. Crosspredictions were found: disobedience/aggression increased the risk of cognitive/concentration problems, which predicted emotional immaturity, while hyperactivity predicted disobedience/aggression. Teacher’s global opinion of poor achievement predicted cognitive/concentration problems, and poor conduct predicted hyperactivity. Behavioral problems rated by parents in first grade predicted their persistence. Detection of problems in first grade predicts sixth grade outcomes, providing information for implementing preventive interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cicchetti (2001) Reflections on the past and future of developmental psychopathology J. Green W. Yule (Eds) Research and Innovation on the Road to Modern Child Psychiatry. Royal College of Psychiatrists & the Association of Child Psychology Psychiatry 37–53

    Google Scholar 

  • R Harrington (2001) ArticleTitleCausal processes in development and psychopathology Brit J Psychiat 179 93–94 Occurrence Handle11483467

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Rutter (1988) ArticleTitleEpidemiological approaches to developmental psychopathology Arch Gen Psychiat 45 486–495 Occurrence Handle3282483

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Rutter (1989) ArticleTitlePathways from childhood to adult life J Child Psychol Psychiat 30 IssueID1 23–51 Occurrence Handle2647779

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • N Ialongo G Edelsohn L Wethamer-Larson L Crockett S Kellam (1995) ArticleTitleThe significance of self-reported anxious symptoms in first grade children: prediction to anxious symptoms and adaptive functioning in fifth grade J Child Psychol Psychiat 36 IssueID3 427–437 Occurrence Handle7782406

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SG Kellam (1990) Mental Health and Going to School: The Woodlawn Program of Assesment, Early Intervention and Evaluation. University of Chicago Press Chicago, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • B Maugham (2001) Prospect and retrospect. Lessons from longitudinal research. J. Green W. Yule (Eds) Research and Innovation on the Road to Modern Child Psychiatry Royal College of Psychiatrists & the Association of Child Psychology Psychiatry 1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • K Sylva (1994) ArticleTitleSchool influences on children’s development J Child Psychol Psychiat 35 IssueID1 135–170 Occurrence Handle8163626

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schiefelbeim E, Schiefelbeim P: Elementos de Diagnóstico de la Deserción. JUNAEB- UST- CIDE; 1998, pp. 1–24.

  • J Garber MK Keiley C Martin (2002) ArticleTitleDevelopmental trajectories of adolescent depressive symptoms: predictors of change J Consult Clin Psychol 70 IssueID1 79–95 Occurrence Handle11860059

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ablow J et al. (1999) ArticleTitleThe McArthur three-city outcome study: evaluating multi- informant measures of young children’s symptomatology J Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 38 IssueID12 1580–1590 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199912000-00020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Achenbach C Howell S McConaughy C Stanger (1995) ArticleTitleSix year predictors of problems in a national sample of children and youth I Cross-informant syndromes J Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 3 34

    Google Scholar 

  • K Bennet E Lipman Y Racine D Offord (1998) ArticleTitleDo measures of externalizing behavior in normal populations predict later outcome? Implications for targeted interventions to prevent conduct disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiat 39 IssueID8 1059–1070

    Google Scholar 

  • M Boyle et al. (1993) ArticleTitlePredicting substance use in early adolescence based on parent and teacher assessment of childhood psychiatric disorder: results from the Ontario child health study follow up J Child Psychol Psychiat 34 IssueID4 535–544 Occurrence Handle8509493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Caspi T Moffit D Newman P Dilva (1999) ArticleTitleBehavioral observations at age 3 years predict adult psychiatric disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry 53 1033–1039

    Google Scholar 

  • D Fergusson J Horwood (1996) ArticleTitlePredictive validity of categorically and dimenssionally scored measures of disruptive childhood behaviors J Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34 IssueID4 477–487

    Google Scholar 

  • M Hofstra J van der Ende F Verlhurst (2002) ArticleTitleChild and adolescent problems predict DSM-4 disorders in adulthood : a 14-year follow-up of a Dutch epidemiological sample J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41 IssueID2 182–189 Occurrence Handle11837408

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Offord (1992) ArticleTitleOutcome, prognosis and risk in a longitudinal follow-up study J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31 IssueID5 916–923 Occurrence Handle1400126

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Roberts C Attkinson A Rosenblatt (1998) ArticleTitlePrevalence of psychopathology among children and adolescents Am J Psychiatry 155 IssueID6 715–725 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3ot12jsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9619142

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter M: Psychosocial adversity and child psychopathology. In J. Green & W. Yule (Eds): Research and Innovation on the Road to Modern Child Psychiatry. Royal College of Psychiatrists & the Association of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 2001, pp. 129–152.

  • F Verhulst J van der Ende (1997) ArticleTitleParent, teacher and self-reports as predictors of signs of disturbance in adolescents: whose information carries more weight? Acta Psychiatr Scand 96 75–81 Occurrence Handle9259229

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Visser J van der Ende H Koot F Verhulst (1999) ArticleTitleContinuity of psychopathology in youths referred to mental health services J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 38 IssueID12 1560–1568 Occurrence Handle10596257

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T Achenbach C Howell S McConaughy C Stanger (1995) ArticleTitleSix year predictor of problems in a national sample of children and youth: II Signs of disturbance. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34 IssueID4 488–498 Occurrence Handle7751263

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • L Babinsky C Hartsough N Lambert (1999) ArticleTitleChildhood conduct problems, hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention as predictors of adult criminal activity J. Child Psychol Psychiat 40 IssueID3 347–355

    Google Scholar 

  • S Coté M Zoccolillo R Tremblay D Nagin (2001) ArticleTitleVitaro Predicting girls’ conduct disorder in adolescence from childhood trajectories of disruptive disorders J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40 IssueID6 678–684

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellam S: Developmental epidemiological framework for family research on depression and agression. In G.R. Patterson (Ed): Depression and Agression in Family Interaction, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Erlbaum, 1990.

  • L Kingston M Prior (1995) ArticleTitleThe development of patterns of stable, transient and school-age onset of aggressive behavior in young children J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34 IssueID3 348–358 Occurrence Handle7896677

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • V Mac Donald T Achenbach (1999) ArticleTitleAttention problems versus conduct problems as 6 year predictors of disturbance in a national sample J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 38 IssueID10 1254–1261

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter M et al: Heterogeneity of antisocial behavior: causes, continuities and consequences. In D.W. Osgood (Ed): Motivation & Delinquency, Vol. 44 of the Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. 1997, pp. 44–118.

  • S Mannuzza R Klein A Bessler P Malloy M IaPadula (1993) ArticleTitleAdult outcome of hyperactive boys Educational achievement, occupational rank and psychiatric status. Arch Gen Psychiatry 50 565–576

    Google Scholar 

  • G Weiss LT Hechtman (1994) Hyperactive Children grown up EditionNumber2 Guilford Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • J Biederman et al. (2001) ArticleTitleFurther evidence of association between behavioral inhibition and social anxiety in children Am J Psychiatry 158 1673–1679 Occurrence Handle11579001

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Hayward J Killen H Kraemer B Taylor (1998) ArticleTitleLinking self-reported chilhood behavioral inhibition to adolescent social phobia J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 37 IssueID12 1308–1361 Occurrence Handle9847504

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • C Schwartz N Snidman J Kagan (1999) ArticleTitleAdolescent social anxiety as an outcome of inhibited temperament in childhood J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 38 IssueID8 1008–1015 Occurrence Handle10434493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Warner P Wickramante M Weissman (1990) ArticleTitleSibling aggregation for psychiatric disorders in offsprings at high and low risk for depression: 10 year follow-up Psychol Med 29 IssueID5 1291–1298

    Google Scholar 

  • F de la Barra V Toledo J Rodríguez (2002) ArticleTitleEstudio de salud mental en dos cohortes de niños escolares de Santiago Occidente I: prevalencia y seguimiento de problemas conductuales y cognitivos. Rev Chil Neuro-Psiquiat 40 9–21

    Google Scholar 

  • F de la Barra V Toledo J Rodríguez (2002) ArticleTitleEstudio de salud mental en dos cohortes de niños escolares de Santiago Occidente II: factores de riesgo familiares y escolares. Rev Chil Neuro-Psiquiat 40 347–360

    Google Scholar 

  • F de la Barra V Toledo J Rodríguez (2002) ArticleTitleEstudio de salud mental en dos cohortes de niños escolares de Santiago Occidente III: predictores tempranos de problemas conductuales y cognitivos. Rev Chil Neuro-Psiquiat 41 IssueID1 65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • M George X Siraquian R Mores (1995) ArticleTitleAdaptación y validación de dos instrumentos de pesquisa de problemas de salud mental en escolares de 10 básico Revista de Psicología 5 17–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Jellinek M, Murphy M, Robinson J, Feins A, Lamb S, Fenton T: Pediatric symptom checklist: screening school-age children for psychosocial dysfunction. The Journal of Pediatrics 201--209, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorostegui ME: Adaptación y construcción de normas de la escala de autoconcepto para niños de Piers Harris. Memoria para optar al título de psicólogo. Pontificia Universidad Católica, 1992.

  • Kleinbaum D, Kupper D, Muller K: Applied Regression Analysis and other Multivariable Methods. PWS-Kent Publishing Co, 1988.

  • R Byrd M Weitzman P Auinger (1997) ArticleTitleIncreased behavior problems associated with delayed school entry and delayed school progress Pediatrics 100 IssueID4 654–661 Occurrence Handle9310520

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Emsminger AL Slusarnick (1992) ArticleTitlePaths to high school graduation or dropout: a longitudinal study of a first grade cohort Sociol Educ 65 95–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellam SG, Rebok GW: Building developmental and etiological theory through epidemiologically based prevention intervention trials. In J. Mc Cord & R. E. Tremblay (Eds): Preventing Antisocial Behavior: Interventions from Birth through Adolescence. New York: Guilford Press 1992, pp. 162–195.

  • S Kellam G Rebok N Ialongo L Mayer (1994) ArticleTitleThe course and malleability of agressive behavior and of from early first grade into middle school: results of a developmental epidemiology-based preventive trial J Child Psychol Psychiat 35 IssueID2 259–28 Occurrence Handle8188798

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SG Kellam LS Mayer GW Rebok WE Hawkins (1988) Effects of improving achievement on aggressive behavior improving aggressive behavior on achievement through two preventive interventions: an investigation of causal paths BP Dohrenwend (Eds) Adversity, Stress and Psychopathology Oxford University Press London, GB

    Google Scholar 

  • B Fagot L Leve (1998) ArticleTitleTeacher rating of externalizing behavior at school entry for boys and girls: similar early predictors and different correlates J Child Psychol Psychiat 39 IssueID4 555–566 Occurrence Handle9599783

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Verhulst J van der Ende (1995) ArticleTitleThe eight-year stability of problem behavior in an epidemiological sample Pediatr Res 38 612–617 Occurrence Handle8559618

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Kellam G Rebok L Mayer N Ialongo C Kalodner (1994) ArticleTitleDepressive symptoms over first grade and their response to a developmental epidemiologically based preventive trial aimed at improving achievement Development and Psychopathology 6 463–481 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0954579400006052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S Kellam X Ling R Merisca H Brown N Ialongo (1998) ArticleTitleThe effect of the level of aggression in the first grade classroom on the course and malleability of agressive behavior into middle school Development & Psychopathology 10 165–185

    Google Scholar 

  • E Taylor O Chadwick E Heptinstall M Danckaerts (1996) ArticleTitleHyperactivity and conduct disorders as risk factors for adolescent development J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35 IssueID9 1213–1226 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199609000-00019 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH387jvFI%3D Occurrence Handle8824065

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T Achenbach C Howell S McConaughy C Stanger (1995) ArticleTitleSix year predictors of problems in a national sample: III Transitions to young adult syndromes J Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34 IssueID5 658–679

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Chile, Camino San Antonio 18.Depto.121., Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

    Flora de la Barra MD, Virginia Toledo MD,MPH & Jorge Rodríguez MSM

Authors
  1. Flora de la Barra MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Virginia Toledo MD,MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jorge Rodríguez MSM
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Flora de la Barra MD.

Additional information

This study was supported by the Chilean National Fund for Science and Technology (FONDECYT) grants No 1930116 and 1970259. The authors wish to thank Carmen López and Myriam George from the Ministry of Health for their contribution during the study, Prof. Sheppard Kellam for his continuous supervision and Dr. Boris Birmaher and Dr. Thomas Anders for their critical reviews of the manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barra, F.d.l., Toledo, V. & Rodríguez, J. Prediction of Behavioral Problems in Chilean Schoolchildren. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 35, 227–243 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-004-6459-9

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-004-6459-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation