The Heterogeneity in the Development of Homotypic and Heterotypic Antisocial Behavior

Introduction

This study aimed to contribute to the existing literature by testing whether the same classes of antisocial behavior typically uncovered in the literature would be revealed with the additional information about heterotypic antisocial behavior. We investigated the development of men’s antisocial behavior in its homotypic and heterotypic forms from age 12 to 30 years in a large representative sample.

Material and methods

Data were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. This study included 3639 male participants from 6 birth cohorts (1977–1982), first assessed in 1995 and followed up to 2008–2009. Homotypic antisocial behavior comprised items that were assessed at every wave, and heterotypic antisocial behavior comprised adolescent- and adult-specific items. Group-based modeling was used to identify classes of antisocial behavior.

Results

Five trajectories were identified: low, life-course-persistent, adolescent-limited, moderate declining, and adult-peak.

Conclusion

By including heterotypic items, we showed that a group whose antisocial behavior is typically identified as emerging in adulthood was already engaging in moderate levels of antisocial behavior in adolescence. The implications of sample characteristics and forms of antisocial behavior for accurate classification are discussed.

Below:  Five-class solution for multiple domain latent class growth analysis. a Estimated rates for homotypic antisocial behavior from age 12 to 30 years. b Estimated rates for adolescent- and adult-specific heterotypic antisocial behavior

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/kzkgJw

By:  

Frances R. Chen

, Sara R. Jaffee 

 

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