Publication year: 2011
Source: Child Abuse & Neglect, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 3 August 2011
Kristen, Woodruff , Bethany, Lee
Objective: Young children involved with child welfare services are at high risk for behavior problems. This study aims to identify externalizing behavior paths that preschoolers in this high-risk population follow over a 6 year period, and the predictors of membership in normative and problematic pathways. Methods: Using data from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW), the sample included 246 4-year-olds who remained home after investigation. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to estimate the number, size, and shape of subgroups of preschoolers following distinct behavioral pathways. Early predictors of membership in the resulting groups were then examined. Results: Four groups of…