Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2006):

From risky behavior to health risk: continuity across two generations.

Full Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of childhood aggression and social withdrawal on adolescent health risk behaviors and adult health outcomes, and to examine the transfer of health risk to preschool offspring. This was a prospective, longitudinal, and intergenerational study of 114 mothers from disadvantaged neighborhoods, who were identified in childhood as being highly aggressive and/or withdrawn or with low scores on these 2 behavioral risk dimensions, and their preschool offspring aged 1 to 6 years old. The health histories of mothers (adolescent health risk behavior, health during pregnancy, current symptoms) and target children were taken during structured interviews conducted at home. Regression analyses tested the relationship between maternal childhood risk status and subsequent health outcomes, and these were followed by structural equation modeling of a proposed intergenerational pathway. Maternal childhood aggression predicted current health risk behaviors (e.g., daily cigarette smoking), whereas maternal childhood social withdrawal was not associated with maternal health risk at the time of testing. Mothers who had high scores on both aggression and withdrawal were more likely to engage in adolescent health risk behavior, which was directly related to health problems in preschoolers (even after controlling for covariates, such as neonatal health status and sex). In summary, there are distinct health trajectories for women who are highly aggressive and socially withdrawn in childhood, with implications for women's long-term health. Specifically, aggression in girls is likely to lead to health risk behaviors that may also place the next generation at risk for pediatric illness. Results are interpreted in terms of the health-hostility link, best known in adult men and intergenerational models.

Author information

Author/s: De Genna, Natacha M (NM); Stack, Dale M (DM); Serbin, Lisa A (LA); Ledingham, Jane E (JE); Schwartzman, Alex E (AE);

Affiliation: Center for Research in Human Development and Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. degennan(-atsign-)pitt.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP (J Dev Behav Pediatr), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 27 (issue 4) : pp 297-309

Dates: Created 2006/08/14; Completed 2006/12/14;

PMID: 16906005, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adolescent Psychology Age Factors Aggression Child Child Behavior - psychology Female Health Behavior Humans Intergenerational Relations Longitudinal Studies

Male Models, Psychological Mother-Child Relations Mothers - psychology Parenting - psychology Pregnant Women - psychology Prospective Studies Risk-Taking Social Isolation Socioeconomic Factors Women's Health

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• A longitudinal study of mothers' overreactive discipline and toddlers' externalizing behavior. 29 Sep 1999
• Examining the relation of parenting to children's coping with everyday stress. 29 Nov 1993
• Predicting mothers' beliefs about preschool-aged children's social behavior: evidence for maternal attitudes moderating child effects. 29 Apr 1999
• A factor analytic approach to distinguish pure and co-occurring dimensions of proactive and reactive aggression. 29 Nov 2006
• The invisible bonds: does the secure base script of attachment influence children's attention toward their mother? 29 Sep 2007
• Reciprocal influences between maternal discipline techniques and aggression in children and adolescents. 29 Apr 2008
• Parenting behaviour described by mothers in a general population sample. 27 Feb 2002
• Mothers' overreactive discipline and their encoding and appraisals of toddler behavior. 29 Sep 2003
• Parenting of divorced mothers as a link between social status and boys' academic outcomes: unpacking the effects of socioeconomic status. 30 Aug 1999
• Adjustment of children and their mothers with breast cancer. 10 Jul 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.