Can Childhood Behavioural Characteristics Predict Adolescent Boys’ Health?

Nine-year longitudinal data were used to group participants in terms of the stability of the boys' disruptiveness and/or anxiety. In addition to annual assessment, 625 boys were interviewed between the ages 14 and 16 years to measure healthy and risky behaviours, as well as health outcomes. A logistic regression showed significant group effects for risky health behaviours (e.g. unsafe sex, alcohol abuse). Boys with stable disruptive characteristics were most likely and boys with stable anxious characteristics were least likely to engage in risky behaviours. As for health outcomes, boys with stable disruptive characteristics used health services more often. The boys with anxious characteristics reported more chronic minor health problems and were hospitalized more for non-psychiatric problems during the past year.