Elementary school children's associations of antisocial behaviour with risk‐taking across 7–11 years

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of childhood antisocial behaviour on future maladaptation has been acknowledged. Risk‐taking has been associated with antisocial behaviour in adolescents and adults, but its association with childhood antisocial behaviour is understudied. In this study, we explored the association of children's risk‐taking with antisocial behaviour in mainstream elementary schoolchildren studied longitudinally across 7–11 years.MethodsOne thousand and eighty‐six children (51% boys) were assessed in three annual waves. Antisocial behaviours (aggressive, covert antisocial and oppositional defiant behaviour) were assessed using teacher‐ and peer‐reports. Risk‐taking was measured using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). The association of antisocial behaviour with risk‐taking was analysed using parallel growth models.ResultsChildren with higher levels of risk‐taking at age 7 showed increased growth in peer‐reported aggression from age 7 to 11. Risk‐taking, that is increased levels at age 7 in boys and increased growth in girls, predicted increased growth in peer‐reported oppositional defiant behaviour. Associations of risk‐taking with teacher‐reported aggression and covert antisocial behaviour were at trend level.ConclusionsResults indicated that already in childhood, among typically developing children, risk‐taking is associated with the development of antisocial behaviour. Future research focused on antisocial behaviour, but also school mental health workers and clinicians should take into account that already in childhood, risk‐taking might affect antisocial behaviour development.

Statistical analysis of childhood and early adolescent externalizing behaviors in a middle low income country

“…Children and young adults who experienced a low level of adequate parenting [69], insensitive and harsh parenting [70] and child to parent violence [71] are most likely to be aggressive. In addition, those that engage in excessive risk-taking tend to be aggressive in adulthood [72].…”

Classroom peer preferences and the development of sharing behavior with friends and others

“…Children from 70 classrooms in 13 elementary schools located in the eastern and central parts of the Netherlands participated in the study. The present study is part of an overarching longitudinal study focused on children’s behavioral, social–emotional, cognitive, and biopsychological development during elementary school (Behnsen et al, 2018; de Wilde et al, 2016; Tieskens et al, 2018). All study procedures were approved by the medical ethical committee of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands (protocol number: NL37788.029.11).…”

Heightened neural sensitivity to social exclusion in boys with a history of low peer preference during primary school

“…Neural responses to social exclusion of 55 primary school boys (mean age = 10.40 years, SD = 0.74, median = 10.54, range = 8.32–11.66 years) were collected in June 2016 – May 2017 during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session. The participants were selected from a longitudinal classroom-based study on the social, emotional and cognitive development of children during primary school ( Behnsen et al, 2018 ; de Wilde et al, 2016 ; Tieskens et al, 2018 ). Only boys were selected for the following reasons.…”