The bidirectional relationship between head injuries and conduct problems: longitudinal modelling of a population-based birth cohort study
The bidirectional relationship between head injuries and conduct problems: longitudinal modelling of a population-based birth cohort study
Childhood head injuries and conduct problems increase the risk of aggression and criminality and are well-known correlates. However, the direction and timing of their association and the role of their demographic risk factors remain unclear. This study investigates the bidirectional links between both from 3 to 17 years while revealing common and unique demographic risks. A total of 8,603 participants (50.2% female; 83% White ethnicity) from the Millennium Cohort Study were analysed at 6 timepoints from age 3 to 17. Conduct problems were parent-reported for ages 3 to 17 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and head injuries at ages 3 to 14. A cross-lagged path model estimated the longitudinal bidirectional effects between the two whilst salient demographic risks were modelled cumulatively at three ecological levels (child, mother, and household). Conduct problems at age 5 promoted head injuries between 5 and 7 (Z = 0.07; SE = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02–0.13), and head injuries at ages 7 to 11 promoted conduct problems at age 14 (ß =.0.06; SE =.0.03; 95% CI, 0.01–0.12). Head injuries were associated with direct child-level risk at age 3, whereas conduct problems were associated with direct risks from all ecological levels until 17 years. The findings suggest a sensitive period at 5–11 years for the bidirectional relationship shared between head injuries and conduct problems. They suggest that demographic risks for increased head injuries play an earlier role than they do for conduct problems. Both findings have implications for intervention timing.
Conduct problems, Cross-lagged path model, Cumulative risk index, Developmental psychopathology, Head injury
Carr, Hannah Rae
9a1d703f-7057-49d9-af3d-a809fd319a2d
Hall, James E.
29e17a2b-dca0-4b91-be02-2ace4abaa6c4
Eisenbarth, Hedwig
41af3dcb-da48-402b-a488-49de88e64f0c
Brandt, Valerie C.
e41f5832-70e4-407d-8a15-85b861761656
24 February 2023
Carr, Hannah Rae
9a1d703f-7057-49d9-af3d-a809fd319a2d
Hall, James E.
29e17a2b-dca0-4b91-be02-2ace4abaa6c4
Eisenbarth, Hedwig
41af3dcb-da48-402b-a488-49de88e64f0c
Brandt, Valerie C.
e41f5832-70e4-407d-8a15-85b861761656
Carr, Hannah Rae, Hall, James E., Eisenbarth, Hedwig and Brandt, Valerie C.
(2023)
The bidirectional relationship between head injuries and conduct problems: longitudinal modelling of a population-based birth cohort study.
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
(doi:10.1007/s00787-023-02175-y).
Abstract
Childhood head injuries and conduct problems increase the risk of aggression and criminality and are well-known correlates. However, the direction and timing of their association and the role of their demographic risk factors remain unclear. This study investigates the bidirectional links between both from 3 to 17 years while revealing common and unique demographic risks. A total of 8,603 participants (50.2% female; 83% White ethnicity) from the Millennium Cohort Study were analysed at 6 timepoints from age 3 to 17. Conduct problems were parent-reported for ages 3 to 17 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and head injuries at ages 3 to 14. A cross-lagged path model estimated the longitudinal bidirectional effects between the two whilst salient demographic risks were modelled cumulatively at three ecological levels (child, mother, and household). Conduct problems at age 5 promoted head injuries between 5 and 7 (Z = 0.07; SE = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02–0.13), and head injuries at ages 7 to 11 promoted conduct problems at age 14 (ß =.0.06; SE =.0.03; 95% CI, 0.01–0.12). Head injuries were associated with direct child-level risk at age 3, whereas conduct problems were associated with direct risks from all ecological levels until 17 years. The findings suggest a sensitive period at 5–11 years for the bidirectional relationship shared between head injuries and conduct problems. They suggest that demographic risks for increased head injuries play an earlier role than they do for conduct problems. Both findings have implications for intervention timing.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 17 February 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 February 2023
Published date: 24 February 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
HC was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (Grant Number ES/P000673/1). We are grateful to the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS), UCL Social Research Institute, for the use of the MCS dataset and to the UK Data Service for making them available. Neither CLS nor the UK Data Service bear any responsibility for the analysis or interpretation of these data.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Conduct problems, Cross-lagged path model, Cumulative risk index, Developmental psychopathology, Head injury
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 476084
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476084
ISSN: 1018-8827
PURE UUID: 1c61eaa1-d50f-4c7f-9362-4cebea3e43dd
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Date deposited: 12 Apr 2023 11:47
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:08
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Author:
Hannah Rae Carr
Author:
Hedwig Eisenbarth
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