Hyperactivity precedes conduct problems in preschool children: a longitudinal study
Berit M. Gustafsson,
Henrik Danielsson,
Mats Granlund,
Per A. Gustafsson,
Marie Proczkowska
Affiliations
Berit M. Gustafsson
Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden, Psychiatric Clinic, Högland Hospital, Division of Psychiatrics and Rehabilitation/Region Jönköping, Sweden, and CHILD research environment, SIDR, Jönköping University, Sweden
Henrik Danielsson
Swedish Institute for Disability Research and Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden
Mats Granlund
CHILD research environment, SIDR, Jönköping University, Sweden and Department of Special Education, Oslo University, Norway
Per A. Gustafsson
Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden; and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Linköping University, Sweden
Marie Proczkowska
Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden, and Psychiatric Clinic, Hospital of Jönköping, Division of Psychiatrics and Rehabilitation/Jönköping County, Sweden.
BackgroundExternalising problems are among the most common symptoms of mental health problems in preschool children.AimsTo investigate the development of externalising problems in preschool children over time, and the way in which conduct problems are linked to hyperactivity problems.MethodIn this longitudinal study, 195 preschool children were included. Latent growth modelling of conduct problems was carried out, with gender and hyperactivity at year 1 as time-invariant predictors.ResultsHyperactivity was a significant predictor for the intercept and slope of conduct problems. Children with more hyperactivity at year 1 had more conduct problems and a slower reduction in conduct problems. Gender was a significant predictor for the slope of conduct problems.ConclusionsChildren with more initial hyperactivity have less of a reduction in conduct problems over time. It is important to consider the role of hyperactivity in studies of the development of conduct problems.Declaration of interestNone.