Development and Psychopathology (2000), 12:109-132 Cambridge University Press Copyright © 2000 Cambridge University Press Research Article
Distinguishing the early-onset/persistent and adolescence-onset antisocial behavior
types: From birth to 16 years BENJAMIN AGUILAR a1 , L. ALAN SROUFE a1 , BYRON EGELAND a1 c1 and ELIZABETH CARLSON a1 a1 University of Minnesota
Abstract
Moffitt's theory regarding two types of adolescent antisocial behavior was
investigated using a prospective, longitudinal study of normal and abnormal development in a
primarily low socioeconomic status, ethnically diverse sample. Results supported the presence of
an early-onset/persistent (EOP) group and an adolescence-onset (AO) group. Groups were
most reliably and significantly distinguished by indices of socioemotional history within the first
3 years, but no significant differences were found on early measures of temperament or
neuropsychological functioning. EOPs scored significantly lower than other groups on measures
of neuropsychological functioning only during late childhood and adolescence,
suggesting that the declines in verbal functioning that have been so reliably found in this and
other samples of early-starting antisocial adolescents are progressive and consequent to adverse
experience. In adolescence, AOs were significantly more likely to report high levels of
internalizing symptoms and life stress, suggesting that AO antisocial behavior is not a benign
phenomenon. Implications of these findings for etiologic theories of adolescent antisocial
behavior are discussed. Correspondence:
c1 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Byron Egeland, University of Minnesota, Institute of Child Development, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455ndash;0345.
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