A DEMOGRAPHIC-SURVEY OF RARE AND COMMON PROBLEM BEHAVIORS AMONG AMERICAN STUDENTS

Presents a nationwide survey of base rates for specific problem behavi ors observed by classroom teachers of 1,400 youth between 5 and 17 yea rs of age. Participants comprised the standardization cohort of the Ad justment Scales for Children and Adolescents (McDermott, 1994) stratif ied according to the U.S. Census. Base rates are analyzed for both ran k-order precedence and percentage prevalence overall, and across youth development levels, sex, race/ethnicity and social class. Also consid ered are distinctions between commonplace and rare behaviors and the c ontextual situations and surface syndromes with which behaviors are as sociated. Rank-order correlations detected generally similar patterns of behavioral precedence across demographics. In contrast, logistic re gression revealed numerous differences in prevalence of problem behavi ors across developmental levels and student sex, with certain behavior s more likely to emerge in minority ethnic groups or among students fr om educationally disadvantaged families. Implications are considered f or the construction of useful scales of youth problem behavior and in light of recent epidemiologic evidence and policy initiatives concerni ng the prevalence of child psychopathology.