Neuromotor functioning and behavior problems in children at risk for psychopathology

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1997 Jun;25(3):229-37. doi: 10.1023/a:1025700116710.

Abstract

Previous studies have found that early neuromotor deficits may be a precursor of later psychopathology. The present study examined the relationship between neuromotor dysfunction and behavioral deviance in children characterized by a variety of risk factors (parental schizophrenia, parental psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, and parental maltreatment). The sample consisted of 108 children (average age 9.75 years) who were assessed twice, approximately 1 year apart. It was was found that maltreated children had poorer neuromotor functioning and more behavior problems than children who were not maltreated, regardless of parental psychiatric status. The results also indicated that the relationship between neuromotor functioning and problem behaviors varied as a function of parental psychiatric status. These findings suggest that, although the effects of maltreatment are generalized and pervasive, there are distinctive relationships between neuromotor functioning and behavioral deviance depending on the nature of the risk factors a child has been exposed to.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology
  • Child Behavior Disorders / etiology
  • Child Development
  • Child of Impaired Parents / classification*
  • Child of Impaired Parents / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Family Health*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / complications
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / etiology
  • Movement Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Movement Disorders / etiology
  • Neurotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Neurotic Disorders / etiology
  • New York / epidemiology
  • Personality Development
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology
  • Social Behavior Disorders / epidemiology
  • Social Behavior Disorders / etiology