Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T07:21:32.409Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pairs of Same-Sexed Siblings Discordant for Antisocial Behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Marge Reitsma-Street*
Affiliation:
Child and Family Centre, Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals, Box 2000, Station A, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada
David R. Offord
Affiliation:
McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada
Terri Finch
Affiliation:
Formerly Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University; presently Association of Agencies for Treatment and Development, 499 King St. E., Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1E1, Canada
*
Correspondence

Summary

Seventy-one pairs of same-sexed biological adolescent siblings, discordant for antisocial behaviour and service contact, were compared using matched-pairs analyses along several dimensions which included developmental, family, psychiatric, educational, cognitive, pro- and antisocial behaviour. The antisocial youth had significantly more negative perceptions and experiences than their siblings, who experienced more protective influences. Earlier onset in the antisocial youth of activities such as smoking also significantly differentiated the pairs. The early temperament index alone correctly classified as proband and sibling 95% of the youth, using discriminant analysis procedures. The findings are relevant to the aetiology of antisocial behaviour and to possible treatment interventions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arnold, J. E., Levine, A. G. & Patterson, G. R. (1975) Changes in sibling behavior following family intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 683688.Google Scholar
Bates, J. E. (1980) The concept of difficult temperament. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 26, 299319.Google Scholar
Baumes, C. H. (1929) A study of problem boys and their brothers by the sub-commission on causes and effects of crime. Albany: J. B. Lyon.Google Scholar
Blishen, B. K. & Mc Roberts, H.A. (1976) A revised socioeconomic index for occupations in Canada. Review of Canadian Sociology and Anthropology, 13, 7179.Google Scholar
Buros, O. K. (ed.) (1972) The Third Mental Measurement Yearbook. Highland Park, New Jersey: Gryphon Press.Google Scholar
Casscells, W., Evans, D., DeSilva, R. A., Davies, J. E., Hennekens, C. H., Rosener, B., Lown, B. & Jesse, M. J. (1980) Retirement and coronary mortality. The Lancet, i, 1288.Google Scholar
Coleman, S. (1978) Sib group therapy: a prevention program for siblings from drug-addicted families. International Journal of the Addictions, 13, 115127.Google Scholar
Dunn, J. & Kendrick, C. (1982) Siblings: Love, Envy, and Understanding. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Finch, T., Reitsma-Street, M. & Dummitt, G. (1981) Comparison of Proband-Sibling Development Interview Coding Manual. Mimeographed. Hamilton: McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Healy, W. & Bronner, A. F. (1936; 1969) New Light on Delinquency and Its Treatment. Westport: Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Herjanic, B. & Campbell, W. (1977) Differentiating psychiatrically disturbed children on the basis of a structured interview. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 5, 127134.Google Scholar
Hoover, C. & Franz, J. D. (1972) Siblings in the families of schizophrenics. Archives of General Psychiatry, 26, 334341.Google Scholar
Hull, C. H. & Nie, N. H. (1981) SPSS—Update 7–9. New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Hunt, D. E., Butler, L. F., Noy, J. E. & Rossor, M. E. (1978) Assessing Conceptual Level by the Paragraph Completion Method. Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.Google Scholar
Jastak, J. F. & Jastak, S. (1978) WRAT Manual. Wilmington, Delaware: Jastak Associates.Google Scholar
Johnson, R. E. (1979) Juvenile Delinquency and its Origins, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Klein, N. E. & Alexander, J. F. (1977) Impact of family systems intervention on recidivism and sibling delinquency: A Model of primary prevention and program evaluation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 469474.Google Scholar
Lengyel, C. A. (1980) The Vulnerability of Juvenile Delinquents: A Comparison of Problem-Solving Strategies in Delinquents and their Non-Delinquent Siblings. Master's Thesis, Queen's University, Kingston.Google Scholar
Lerner, R. M., Palermo, M., Spiro, A. III & Nesselroade, J. R. (1982) Assessing the dimensions of temperamental individuality across the life span: The dimensions of temperament survey (DOTS). Child Development, 53, 149159.Google Scholar
Lewis, D. O. & Shanok, S. S. (1977) Medical histories of delinquent and non-delinquent children: An epidemiological study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 10201025.Google Scholar
Miller, A. (1981) Conceptual matching models and interactional research in education. Review of Educational Research, 51, 3384.Google Scholar
Mueller, E. E. (1971) Psychodrama with delinquent siblings. Corrective Psychiatry and Journal of Social Therapy, 17, 1828.Google Scholar
Nie, N. H., Hull, C. H., Jenkins, J. G., Steinbrenner, K. & Brent, D. H. (1975) Statistical Package For the Social Sciences (2nd ed.) New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Offord, D. R. & Jones, M. B. (1976) The proband-sibling design with two technical notes. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 21, 101107.Google Scholar
Olsen, L., Liebow, E., Mannio, F. V. & Shore, M. F. (1980) Runaway children twelve years later: A follow-up. Journal of Family Issues, 1, 165168.Google Scholar
Patterson, G. R. (1981) Siblings: Fellow travellers in a coercive system. Mimeographed. Eugene, Oregon: The Oregon School Learning Centre.Google Scholar
Prout, C. T. & White, M. A. (1956) The schizophrenic sibling. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 123, 162170.Google Scholar
Quinton, E., Rutter, M. & Rowland, O. (1976) An evaluation of an interview assessment of marriage. Psychological Medicine, 6, 557.Google ScholarPubMed
Reitsma-Street, M., Dummit, G., Finch, T. & Offord, D. (1981) Comparison of Proband-Sibling Development Interview. Mimeographed. Hamilton: McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Reitsma-Street, M., Offord, D. & Lynch, G. (1981) Comparison of Hard to Serve Adolescents and Their Siblings. Progress Report No. 2. Mimeographed. Hamilton: McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Reitsma-Street, M., Offord, D. (1982) Revised Short Manual For Psychiatric Diagnosis. Mimeographed. Hamilton: McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Reitsma-Street, M., Offord, D. Finch, T. & Dummit, G. (1983) Antisocial Adolescents and Their Non-Antisocial Siblings. Final Research Report and Technical Appendices. Mimeographed. Hamilton: McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N. (1966) Deviant Children Grown Up. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N. (1979) Follow-up studies of behavior disorders in children. In Psychopathological Disorders of Childhood, (eds. Quay, H. C. & Werry, J. S.). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Robins, L. N. (1981) Epidemidogical approaches to natural history research: antisocial disorders in children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 20, 566580.Google Scholar
Rutter, M., Birch, H. G., Thomas, , & Chess, S. (1964) Temperament characteristics in infancy and later development of behavioral disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 110, 651661.Google Scholar
Rutter, M., Tizard, J., Yule, W., Graham, P. & Whitmore, K. (1976) Isle of Wight Studies, 1964–1974. Psychological Medicine, 6, 313332.Google Scholar
Rutter, M., Maughan, B., Mortimore, P., et al. (1979) Fifteen Thousand Hours–Secondary School and Their Effects on Children. Cambridge, Mass: Havard University Press.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1979) Protective factors in children's response to stress and disadvantage. In The Primary Prevention of Psychopathology: Promoting Social Competence and Coping in Children, (eds. Kent, M. W. & Rolf, J. E.). Hanover, New Hampshire: University Press of New England.Google Scholar
Sackett, D. L. (1979) Bias in analytic research. Journal Chronic Disabilities, 32, 5163.Google Scholar
Siegel, S. (1956) Non-parametric Statistics. New York: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Spitzer, R. L. & Endicott, J. (1981) Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia–Life-Time Version (3rd Ed.). New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute.Google Scholar
Spitzer, R. L. Endicott, J. & Robins, E. (1981) Research Diagnostic Criteria for a Selected Group of Functional Disorders (3rd Ed. Updated). New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute.Google Scholar
Stabenau, J. R., Tupin, J., Werner, M. & Pollin, W. (1965) A comparative study of families and schizophrenics, delinquents and normals. Psychiatry, 28, 4559.Google Scholar
Thomas, A., Chess, S. & Birch, H. G. (1968) Temperament and Behavior Disorders in Children. New York: New York University Press.Google Scholar
Wadsworth, M. (1979) Roots of Delinquency. Oxford: Martin Robertson.Google Scholar
Waters, B. & Offord, D. R. (1980) Interview Schedule and Coding Manual For a Follow-Up Study of Male and Female Delinquents. Mimeographed. Ottawa: Royal Ottawa Hospital, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Welner, Z., Welner, A., Stewart, M., Palkes, H. & Wish, E. (1977) A controlled study of siblings of hyperactive children. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 165, 110117.Google Scholar
West, D. J. & Farrington, D. P. (1973) Who Becomes Delinquent? London: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Yarrow, M. R., Campbell, J. D. & Burton, R. V. (1970) Recollections of childhood: A study of the retrospective method. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 35, Serial No. 138.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.