L'effet protecteur de la maturité des caractères dans le comportement antisocial agressif de l'enfant

Aperçu: G.M.

Le comportement antisocial agressif de l'enfance (CD) est l'un des prédicteurs les plus forts des problèmes de santé mentale et des comportements criminels à l'âge adulte. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire les profils de personnalité chez les enfants avec CD et de déterminer la force de l'association entre les symptômes neurodéveloppementaux définis, les dimensions de la maturité des caractères et les CD.

Les résultats de l'étude suggèrent que la volonté des enfants, la capacité à atteindre les objectifs choisis personnellement peut être un facteur de protection important - même en présence de problèmes de développement neurologique et psychiatrique - contre la progression dans des résultats négatifs persistants, tels que des comportements antisociaux agressifs. 

Compr Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 29;76:129-137. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.007.

The protective effect of character maturity in child aggressive antisocial behavior

Kerekes N¹, Falk Ö², Brändström S³, Anckarsäter H², Råstam M⁴, Hofvander B⁵.

Author information

1

Department of Health Sciences, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden. Electronic address: nora.kerekes@hv.se

2

Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental health (CELAM), University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

3

Center for Well-being Washington University, School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA.

4

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden; Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

5

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Childhood aggressive antisocial behavior (CD) is one of the strongest predictors of mental health problems and criminal behavior in adulthood. The aims of this study were to describe personality profiles in children with CD, and to determine the strength of association between defined neurodevelopmental symptoms, dimensions of character maturity and CD.

METHODS:

A sample of 1886 children with a close to equal distribution of age (9 or 12) and gender, enriched for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric problems were selected from the nationwide Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden. Their parents rated them according to the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory following a telephone interview during which information about the children's development and mental health was assessed with the Autism-Tics, AD/HD and other Comorbidities inventory.

RESULT:

Scores on the CD module significantly and positively correlated with scores on the Novelty Seeking temperament dimension and negatively with scores on character maturity (Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness). In the group of children with either neurodevelopmental or behavioral problems, the prevalence of low or very low character maturity was 50%, while when these two problems coexisted the prevalence of low or very low character maturity increased to 70%. Neurodevelopmental problems (such as: oppositional defiant disorder, symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder) and low scores on character maturity emerged as independently significant predictors of CD; in a multivariable model, only oppositional defiant symptoms and impulsivity significantly increased the risk for coexisting CD while a mature self-agency in a child (Self-Directedness) remained a significant protective factor.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that children's willpower, the capacity to achieve personally chosen goals may be an important protective factor - even in the presence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric problems - against progressing into persistent negative outcomes, such as aggressive antisocial behaviors.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 28521251

DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.007