James D. Roff

Childhood aggression and social adjustment as antecedents of delinquency

A sample of 2,453 grade school children were followed into young adulthood through record sources. Teacher interviews provided information about low-peer-status children that was assessed in relation to subsequent delinquency for both sexes and young adult criminality for males. A multivariate design evaluated the joint effects of social class, a measure of family disturbance, and childhood problem behavior factors as antecedents of delinquency. Childhood aggression emerged as the most prominent antecedent factor for males but not for females. Social class and family disturbance were associated with aggression but did not have significant direct effects on delinquency. Aggression was related to severity of delinquency. Dispositional status, reflecting severity, was the best indicator of which delinquent males would have adult criminal records. A causal model is presented.

Childhood social adjustment, adolescent status, and young adult mental health.

A sample of 2453 grade school children were followed through record sources into young adulthood. Data on peer status and social class were collected, and a subset was subsequently located in high school yearbooks. Those with mental health treatment during young adulthood were determined. Significant relationships were found between peer status and high school activity, and young adult adjustment, with low peer status children having two to three times greater risk for mental health treatment contact in young adulthood.

REMINDER: RELIABILITY OF GLOBAL JUDGMENTS

Reliability as measured by the extent of agreement is often a problem for complex global judgments. Empirically, the use of multiple raters improved reliability consistent with predictions from the Spearman-Brown formula. Implications for the reliability of clinical diagnosis are suggested.

Disturbed preschizophrenics. Childhood symptoms in relation to adult outcome.

Adult outcome information was obtained for a sample of 45 males with a hospital diagnosis of schizophrenia. All cases had been treated at a child guidance clinic as children prior to the onset of schizophrenia as young adults. Refined outcome categories, which reflected the independent judgments of two clinical raters, led to the comparison of poor outcome with more favorable outcome cases in terms of antecedent characteristics. Five rationally derived childhood symptom scales were used. The psychotic scale was significantly related to poor outcome, while acting-out and aggressive symptom scales were related to more favorable adult outcomes. Neurotic and neurological scales were not predictive of outcome. Low childhood IQ and poor peer adjustment were significantly related to poor adult outcome. Sample limitations and comparison with results from other studies were discussed.

CHILDHOOD PEER REJECTION AS A PREDICTOR OF YOUNG ADULTS' MENTAL HEALTH

A sample of 2453 grade school children was followed into young adulthood through mental health record sources. Peer rejection was significantly related to subsequent mental health problems. Correlational findings were compared with alternative measures of predictive efficiency.

Identification of Boys at High Risk for Delinquency

A three-step screening procedure identified from a sample of 1224 grade school boys a subsample of 60 subjects at increased risk for delinquency. Peer status, childhood aggression, and predelinquent behavior were used in a sequential set of predictive tables. Relative improvement over chance provided a measure of predictive efficiency. Additional family variables isolated a small group with even higher risk.

Childhood Antecedents of Schizophrenia: Developmental Sequencing and Specificity of Problem Behavior

Childhood antecedents of schizophrenia were explored for 148 boys seen in child guidance clinics prior to the onset of adolescent or adult disorders. Those most disturbed in childhood were more likely to be preschizophrenic, and their disturbed behavior was relatively specific to that grouping. Childhood problems with motor coordination and attention were associated with impulsive, inappropriate behavior which led to peer rejection followed by increasing seclusiveness. Clinical groupings of the most disturbed boys produced composite descriptions for four groups.

Birth complications and subsequent negative symptoms in schizophrenia

A sample of 29 men with an initial psychotic episode and diagnosis of schizophrenia as young adults were followed into middle adulthood. All had prior child guidance clinic contact. The negative symptoms of affect deficit in young adulthood but not the positive symptoms of thought disorder were predicted by a history of birth complications. Subjects with birth complications who developed negative symptoms had a stable deficit over the follow-up period.

Comparison of Childhood Problem Behaviors in Boys with Subsequent Schizophrenic, Antisocial, and Good Adult Outcomes:

Childhood problem behaviors for 145 boys seen in child guidance clinics were used to compare four adult outcome groups: antisocial men, schizophrenic subjects with good outcomes, schizophrenic subjects with poor outcomes, and subjects with good outcomes. Delinquent and aggressive factor scale scores distinguished the antisocial outcomes from the other groups. A preschizophrenic factor along with lower IQ separated schizophrenics with poor outcome from the others. Subjects with good outcomes had lower scores on factor scales, higher IQ, and less disturbed families. Schizophrenics with good outcomes were the most difficult to identify correctly.

Comparison of DSM-II and DSM-III schizophrenics: a longitudinal perspective.

Patients who meet DSM-III criteria for schizophrenia were compared with those who meet DSM-II, but not DSM-III, criteria. Comparisons included measures of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and social competence both before extended hospitalization and during a 7-year follow-up. The measure of positive symptoms was the only variable that differed significantly between groups at initial assessment. Positive symptoms were more stable and predictive for DSM-III schizophrenics than for DSM-II schizophrenics. The measure of negative symptoms was the most stable and predictive variable for the DSM-II schizophrenics. Increased homogeneity for the DSM-III schizophrenics was not found for most measures.