Child and family variables associated with behavior problems in preschoolers: The role of child gender

The role of gender in preschoolers with behavior problems was examined. Recent research has overlooked significant child and family variables that may interact with child gender in the onset of early childhood problem conduct behaviors. A sample of 39 preschool boys and 15 girls with a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and their parents underwent comprehensive assessment. Child characteristics (e.g., age, onset of problems, comorbid conditions), parent characteristics (e.g., family variables, parental and familial psychiatric history, parenting behaviors) and independent assessment of mother-child interactions were conducted. Few differences between the sexes were observed for any variables. For the current sample it appeared that girls and boys shared more similarities than differences in terms of origins and developmental processes of their conduct problems.