Bidirectional associations between childhood head injuries and conduct problems in a large UK birth cohort

Carr, Hannah, Hall, James, Eisenbarth, Hedwig and Brandt, Valerie (2022) Bidirectional associations between childhood head injuries and conduct problems in a large UK birth cohort. 9th Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy, virtual. 19 May 2022 - 21 Apr 2023 .

Abstract

Childhood conduct problems and head injuries are well-known correlates and can be predictive of psychopathy. However, the direction of the association between conduct problems and head injuries and their salient demographic risk factors remains unclear. The current study investigates the bi-directional links between head injury and conduct problems from 3 to 17 years while revealing common and unique demographic risks. We used data from N = 7,140 (n = 3,647 female) participants in the Millennium Cohort Study, a UK representative, longitudinal, birth-cohort study following those born from 2000-2002. Conduct problems were reported for ages 3-17 using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and head injuries at ages 3-14 (both via parent-report). A cross-lagged path model estimated the longitudinal bi-directional effects between conduct problems and head injuries. Demographic risks were modelled cumulatively at three ecological levels: child, mother, and household. These included risks such as sex, teenage pregnancy, and household income. Conduct problems at age 7 promoted head injuries between ages 7-11, and head injuries at ages 7-11 promoted increased conduct problems at age 14. Conduct problems were associated with risks from all ecological levels while greater head injuries were associated with only child-level risk. The findings show a critical period within the bi-directional relationship shared between head injuries and conduct problems from ages 7-11 years. They also suggest that sociodemographic risks for increased head injuries come earlier than they do for conduct problems. Both findings suggest implications for the timing of interventions, which in turn may aid in preventing subsequent psychopathy.

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Contributors

Author: Hannah Carr

Author: James Hall

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