Pervasive and Non-pervasive Conduct Problems in a Clinic Sample Aged 4-8 years: Child, family and day-care/school factors.

The purpose of this study is to identify the children who are at the greatest risk of developing extensive behavioural problems. In addition, the aim is to establish optimal interventions aimed at children with extensive behavioural problems (i.e. at daycare centres/schools and at home) and interventions aimed at children with limited behavioural problems (i.e. only at home). Factors related to the child, parents, family and daycare centre/school are examined based on the differentiation between children with extensive behavioural problems and children with limited behavioural problems.

Poor social skills and selfishness when interacting with peers were among the findings of the study that can be highlighted as the strongest indicators of extensive behavioural problems. Interventions aimed at the relation between teacher and pupil seem to reinforce a positive response from both teacher and the pupil’s peers, while also reducing the child's aggressive behaviour outside the home. Both of these important aspects will reduce the risk that a child with behavioural problems continues to develop in a negative direction.

The study is designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study includes 120 children with behavioural problems aged from four to eight years. All the children were referred to treatment at psychiatric clinics on an out-patients basis.

Drugli, M. B.; Larsson, B.; Clifford, G.: Fossum, S. (2007). Pervasive and Non-pervasive Conduct Problems in a Clinic Sample Aged 4-8 years: Child, family and day-care/school factors: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 51(5), S. 547-559.