Teachers assessed teenagers in 1,960 for conduct problems, including lying, truancy, daydreaming, restlessness, and disobedience. About 1,000 teens in the study had some conduct problems, though not necessarily severe ones. As adults, however, this group was more likely to divorce, abuse alcohol, quit high school, and experience other types of adversity.

Dr. Martin Iguchi, one of the lead researchers, said he believes the correlation may be due to undiagnosed mental illness, noting that people are at greatest risk for psychiatric problems between ages 14 and 26.

This study from the University of Alberta School of Public Health appeared in the British Medical Journal.

Labels: behaviors, adults, mental_health

Posted By: Aspen Education Group