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Childhood and Adolescent Onset Conduct Disorder: A Test of the Developmental Taxonomy

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Abstract

Hypotheses generated by a developmental taxonomy that distinguishes between childhood and adolescent onset conduct disorders were tested. Hypotheses predicted that (1) individual and familial factors would be more strongly related to childhood onset conduct disorder, whereas ethnic minority status and exposure to deviant peers would be more strongly related to adolescent onset conduct disorder and (2) individuals with childhood onset disorder would be more likely to commit violent and victim oriented offenses than individuals with adolescent onset conduct disorder. The first hypothesis was strongly supported and the second hypothesis was partially supported. Implications for early identification of youth at risk for chronic offending are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, California

    Kristen M. McCabe, Richard Hough, Patricia A. Wood & May Yeh

  2. Department of Psychology, University of San Diego, San Diego, California

    Kristen M. McCabe

  3. Department of Sociology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

    Richard Hough

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California

    Richard Hough & May Yeh

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  1. Kristen M. McCabe
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  2. Richard Hough
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  3. Patricia A. Wood
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  4. May Yeh
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McCabe, K.M., Hough, R., Wood, P.A. et al. Childhood and Adolescent Onset Conduct Disorder: A Test of the Developmental Taxonomy. J Abnorm Child Psychol 29, 305–316 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010357812278

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