Are Negative Social and Psychological Childhood Characteristics of Significant Importance in the Development of Psychosocial Dysfunctioning?

The development of mental health from childhood to adulthood, as well as the associations between childhood hyperactive and non-hyperactive behavior versus adult psychopathic traits, were studied. The central target of examination was to focus on the importance of social and psychological risk characteristics in the psychosocial development of criminal risk individuals and a comparison group. Prospective longitudinal data from the research program 'Young Lawbreakers as Adults' were used. Childhood maltreatment, poor friendships and adjustment problems were found to precede deterioration in mental health over the life span. Hyperactive individuals characterized by poor friendships and a display of aggression affects showed psychopathic traits in adulthood. Non-hyperactive individuals, also displaying psychopathic traits in adulthood, were instead found to have been maltreated and displayed adjustment difficulties in childhood. The results, indicating individual different needs of vulnerable children in the development of psychosocial dysfunctioning, were discussed in terms of the elaboration of preventive efforts within the area of youth and antisocial behavior.