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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 4/2011

Open Access 01-04-2011 | Original Paper

Pre-divorce problems in 3-year-olds: a prospective study in boys and girls

Authors: Sylvana C. C. Robbers, Meike Bartels, C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt, Frank C. Verhulst, Anja C. Huizink, Dorret I. Boomsma

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Objective

We examined to what extent internalizing and externalizing problems at age 3 preceded and predicted parental divorce, and if divorce and the time lapse since divorce were related to internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12.

Methods

Parental ratings of internalizing and externalizing problems were collected with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a large sample (N = 6,426) of 3-year-old children. All these children were followed through the age of 12 years, at which parents completed the CBCL again, while teachers completed the Teacher’s Report Form. Children whose parents divorced between age 3 and age 12 were compared with children whose families remained intact.

Results

Girls whose parents divorced between ages 3 and 12 already showed more externalizing problems at age 3 than girls whose parents stayed married. Higher levels of externalizing problems in girls at age 3 predicted later parental divorce. Parental reports indicated that 12-year-olds with divorced parents showed more internalizing and externalizing problems than children with married parents. Levels of teacher-reported problems were not different between children with married versus divorced parents. However, children whose parents divorced between ages 3 and 12 showed more teacher-rated internalizing problems at age 12 when the divorce was more recent than when the divorce was less recent. Parental ratings of both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12 were not associated with the time lapse since divorce.

Conclusion

Externalizing problems in girls precede and predict later parental divorce. Post-divorce problems in children vary by raters, and may depend on the time lapse since divorce.
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Metadata
Title
Pre-divorce problems in 3-year-olds: a prospective study in boys and girls
Authors
Sylvana C. C. Robbers
Meike Bartels
C. E. M. Toos van Beijsterveldt
Frank C. Verhulst
Anja C. Huizink
Dorret I. Boomsma
Publication date
01-04-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0199-x

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