Developmental epidemiologically based preventive trials: Baseline modeling of early target behaviors and depressive symptoms

Describes a conceptual framework for identifying and targeting developmental antecedents in early childhood that have been shown in previous work to predict delinquency and violent behavior, heavy drug use, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms and possibly disorders in late adolescence and int...

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Published inAmerican journal of community psychology Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 563 - 584
Main Authors Kellam, Sheppard G., Werthamer-Larsson, Lisa, Dolan, Lawrence J., Brown, C. Hendricks, Mayer, Lawrence S., Rebok, George W., Anthony, James C., Laudolff, Jolene, Edelsohn, Gail, Wheeler, Leonard
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers 01.08.1991
Plenum Press
Blackwell Science Ltd
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Attention
Behavior
Child
Child Development
Children & youth
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder - epidemiology
Depressive Disorder - prevention & control
Humans
Mental depression
Models, Psychological
Psychology
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Shyness
Social Adjustment
Social research
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control
Teaching
Time Factors
Violence
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Summary:Describes a conceptual framework for identifying and targeting developmental antecedents in early childhood that have been shown in previous work to predict delinquency and violent behavior, heavy drug use, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms and possibly disorders in late adolescence and into adulthood. Criteria are described that guided choices of targets for two epidemiologically based, randomized preventive trials carried out in 19 elementary schools in the eastern half of Baltimore, involving more than 2,400 first-grade children over the course of first and second grades. Baseline models derived from the first of two cohorts show the evolving patterns of concurrence among the target antecedents. The central role of concentration problems emerged. From Fall to Spring in first grade, concentration problems led to shy and aggressive behavior and poor achievement in both genders and to depressive symptoms among girls. There was evidence for reciprocal relationships in girls. For example, depressive symptoms led to poor achievement in both girls and boys, whereas poor achievement led to depressive symptoms in girls but not boys, at least over the first-grade year. These results provide important epidemiological data relevant to the developmental paths leading to the problem outcomes and suggest preventive trials.
Bibliography:We acknowledge the contributions of the City of Baltimore, its families and children, and the administration of the Baltimore City Public Schools. The Prevention Program is a collaboration between the Baltimore City Public Schools and the Prevention Research Center of the Department of Mental Hygiene, the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. This work of the Prevention Program would not have been possible, let alone successful, without the active participation and continued support of the leadership, faculty, and staff of the School District and their guidance in our research and service enterprise. The Board of School Commissioners gave their strong endorsement. The faculty and staff of the Baltimore Public Schools have made crucial contributions, specifically Richard Hunter, Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools; Alice Pinderhughes, former Superintendent of the Baltimore City Schools; and Charlene Griffin, former Assistant Superintendent for School Management. The assistance and support of the following have been vital to our program: Leonard Wheeler, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools; Charlene Copper‐Boston, Associate Superintendent for External Affairs; Herman Howard, Associate Superintendent for Vocational and Special Education; Carla Ford, Supervisor, Office of Early Childhood Education; Craig Cutter, former Staff Director Department of Education; Edward Friedlander, former Assistant Superintendent of Special Education; Clifton Ball, former Executive Director; Jessie Douglas, Director of Elementary Schools; and Leonard Granick, Staff Specialist for Testing. The efforts of Ulder Tillman in community base‐building are gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Alice Brogden for her manuscript preparation and technical assistance and Pamela Spencer for her contribution to data analyses. The studies on which this paper is based have been supported by the following grants, with supplements from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: National Institute of Mental Health, grant P50 MH38725, Epidemiologic Prevention Center for Early Risk Behavior; NIMH grant 1R01 MH42968, Periodic Outcome of Two Preventive Trials; and grant NIMH 1R01 MH40859, Statistical Methods for Mental Health Preventive Trials.
ISSN:0091-0562
1573-2770
DOI:10.1007/BF00937992