Risk Factors Predictive of the Problem Behavior of Children At Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Authors

J. Ron Nelson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Scott Stage, University of WashingtonFollow
Kristin Duppong-Hurley, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Lori Synhorst, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Michael H. Epstein, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2007

Comments

Published in Exceptional Children 73:3 (2007), pp. 367-379. Reproduced with permission, copyright © 2007 by the CEC, Inc. www.cec.sped.org . All rights reserved.

Abstract

Logistic regression analyses were used to establish the most robust set of risk factors that would best predict borderline/clinical levels of problem behavior (i.e., a t score at or above 60 on the Child Behavior Checklist Total Problem scale) of kindergarten and first-grade children at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. Results showed that among the 11 risk factor domains considered, 5 were most predictive of borderline/clinical levels of problem behavior: externalizing behavior pattern, internalizing behavior pattern, early childhood child maladjustment, family functioning, and maternal depression. Within these 5 domains, the most robust set of individual risk factors were difficult child (i.e., temperament, parent management skills, interaction between temperament and parent management skills), destroys own toys, and maternal depression. Results, limitations, future research, and implications are discussed.