TEMPERAMENT, CNS PROBLEMS AND MATERNAL STRESSORS - INTERACTIVE PREDICTORS OF CONDUCT DISORDER IN 9-YR-OLDS

Conduct disorder in a sample of 565 9-yr.-olds, half of whom were 'at risk' al birth was best predicted by a combination of CNS disorder, di fficult temperament at age 2, maternal stressors, chronic poverty, and child's separation from a parent. Qualitative study of interactive ef fects in the data confirms the New York Longitudinal Study's concept o f 'spiralling up' and 'spiralling down' (disadvantage kindling yet fur ther disadvantage, with poor behavioural outcomes in child).