Risk and resource factors of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents: results of the longitudinal BELLA study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk and resource factors of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents: results of the longitudinal BELLA study

AU - Otto, Christiane

AU - Kaman, Anne

AU - Erhart, Michael

AU - Barkmann, Claus

AU - Klasen, Fionna

AU - Schlack, Robert

AU - Ravens-Sieberer, Ulrike

PY - 2021/10/22

Y1 - 2021/10/22

N2 - BACKGROUND: Antisocial behaviour is a common phenomenon in childhood and adolescence. Information on psychosocial risk and resource factors for antisocial behaviour are important for planning targeted prevention and early intervention programs. The current study explores risk and resource factors of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents based on population-based longitudinal data.METHODS: We analysed longitudinal data from the German BELLA study (n = 1145; 11 to 17 year-olds) measured at three measurement points covering two years. Latent growth analysis, linear regression models and structural equation modelling were used to explore cross-sectional and longitudinal data.RESULTS: Based on baseline data, we found that stronger self-efficacy and worse family climate were each related to stronger antisocial behaviour. Longitudinal data revealed that more severe parental mental health problems, worse family climate at baseline, deteriorating family climate over time, and more social support were each associated with increasing antisocial behaviour over time. We further found a moderating effect for family climate.CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides important exploratory results on psychosocial risk, resource and protective factors in the context of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents, which need confirmation by future research. Our exploratory results point in the direction that family-based interventions for antisocial behavior in children and adolescents may benefit from considering the family climate.

AB - BACKGROUND: Antisocial behaviour is a common phenomenon in childhood and adolescence. Information on psychosocial risk and resource factors for antisocial behaviour are important for planning targeted prevention and early intervention programs. The current study explores risk and resource factors of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents based on population-based longitudinal data.METHODS: We analysed longitudinal data from the German BELLA study (n = 1145; 11 to 17 year-olds) measured at three measurement points covering two years. Latent growth analysis, linear regression models and structural equation modelling were used to explore cross-sectional and longitudinal data.RESULTS: Based on baseline data, we found that stronger self-efficacy and worse family climate were each related to stronger antisocial behaviour. Longitudinal data revealed that more severe parental mental health problems, worse family climate at baseline, deteriorating family climate over time, and more social support were each associated with increasing antisocial behaviour over time. We further found a moderating effect for family climate.CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides important exploratory results on psychosocial risk, resource and protective factors in the context of antisocial behaviour in children and adolescents, which need confirmation by future research. Our exploratory results point in the direction that family-based interventions for antisocial behavior in children and adolescents may benefit from considering the family climate.

U2 - 10.1186/s13034-021-00412-3

DO - 10.1186/s13034-021-00412-3

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 15

SP - 61

JO - CHILD ADOL PSYCH MEN

JF - CHILD ADOL PSYCH MEN

SN - 1753-2000

IS - 1

ER -