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Research article
Associations between developmental timing of child abuse and conduct problem trajectories in a UK birth cohort
Andreas Bauer
University of Bath
Corresponding Author
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Background Although there is strong evidence for a relationship between child abuse and neglect and conduct problems, associations between child abuse experienced at different developmental stages and developmental trajectories of conduct problems have not been examined. We sought to investigate effects of timing of child abuse on conduct problem trajectories in a large UK birth cohort study.
Methods We applied latent class growth analysis to identify conduct problem trajectories in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, using parent-rated conduct problems from ages 4-17 years (N=10648). Childhood-only and adolescence-only abuse, in addition to abuse in both developmental periods (‘persistent’ abuse), were assessed by retrospective self-report at age 22 years (N=3172).
Results We identified four developmental trajectories: early-onset persistent (4.8%), adolescence-onset (4.5%), childhood-limited (15.4%), and low (75.3%) conduct problems. Childhood-only abuse and ‘persistent’ abuse were associated with increased odds of being on the early-onset persistent and adolescence-onset conduct problem trajectories compared to the low conduct problems trajectory. Adolescence-only abuse was not predictive of trajectory membership. There were no associations between abuse and childhood-limited trajectory membership.
Conclusions Early-onset persistent and adolescence-onset conduct problems showed similar patterns of association with abuse exposure, challenging developmental theories that propose qualitative, as opposed to quantitative, differences in environmental risk factors between these trajectories. The results also highlight that childhood-only and ‘persistent’ abuse were more strongly linked to elevated conduct problem trajectories than adolescence-only abuse, and that ‘persistent’ abuse is particularly detrimental.
Keywords
Child abuse, child maltreatment, antisocial behavior, conduct problems, developmental trajectories, latent class growth analysis, ALSPAC
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Additional file 1: Supplementary Figure 1. Tetrachoric correlation matrix of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse occurring in either childhood or adolescence. Supplementary Table 1. Associations between indicators used to derive the inverse probability weights and inclusion in the analysis sample of ‘any abuse’. Supplementary Table 2. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons between participants with class membership information (N = 10648) and with and without complete data on measures of child abuse and covariates (N = 3127). Supplementary Figure 2. Retention flow chart across measures/analyses. Supplementary Table 3. Validation of conduct problem classes against an independent measure of self-reported antisocial behavior.
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Psychiatry. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Associations between developmental timing of child abuse and conduct problem trajectories in a UK birth cohort
Andreas Bauer
University of Bath
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 20 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 12 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 12 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 12 Jan, 2021
Version (no preprint)
Posted 10 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 10 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 10 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 10 Jan, 2021
This version was not preprinted
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 04 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 14 Dec, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 14 Dec, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 14 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 10 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 10 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 10 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 09 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 09 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 09 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Oct, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 11 Oct, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 12 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 30 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 24 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Aug, 2020
First submitted
On 18 Aug, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychiatry
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background Although there is strong evidence for a relationship between child abuse and neglect and conduct problems, associations between child abuse experienced at different developmental stages and developmental trajectories of conduct problems have not been examined. We sought to investigate effects of timing of child abuse on conduct problem trajectories in a large UK birth cohort study.
Methods We applied latent class growth analysis to identify conduct problem trajectories in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, using parent-rated conduct problems from ages 4-17 years (N=10648). Childhood-only and adolescence-only abuse, in addition to abuse in both developmental periods (‘persistent’ abuse), were assessed by retrospective self-report at age 22 years (N=3172).
Results We identified four developmental trajectories: early-onset persistent (4.8%), adolescence-onset (4.5%), childhood-limited (15.4%), and low (75.3%) conduct problems. Childhood-only abuse and ‘persistent’ abuse were associated with increased odds of being on the early-onset persistent and adolescence-onset conduct problem trajectories compared to the low conduct problems trajectory. Adolescence-only abuse was not predictive of trajectory membership. There were no associations between abuse and childhood-limited trajectory membership.
Conclusions Early-onset persistent and adolescence-onset conduct problems showed similar patterns of association with abuse exposure, challenging developmental theories that propose qualitative, as opposed to quantitative, differences in environmental risk factors between these trajectories. The results also highlight that childhood-only and ‘persistent’ abuse were more strongly linked to elevated conduct problem trajectories than adolescence-only abuse, and that ‘persistent’ abuse is particularly detrimental.
Figure 1