A demographic survey of rare and common problem behaviors among American students

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Abstract
Presents a nationwide survey of base rates for specific problem behaviors observed by classroom teachers of 1,400 youth between 5 and 17 years of age. Participants comprised the standardization cohort of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (McDermott, 1994) stratified according to the U.S. Census. Base rates are analyzed for both rank-order precedence and percentage prevalence overall, and across youth development levels, sex, race/ethnicity and social class. Also considered are distinctions between commonplace and rare behaviors and the contextual situations and surface syndromes with which behaviors are associated. Rank-order correlations detected generally similar patterns of behavioral precedence across demographics. In contrast, logistic regression revealed numerous differences in prevalence of problem behaviors across developmental levels and student sex, with certain behaviors more likely to emerge in minority ethnic groups or among students from educationally disadvantaged families. Implications are considered for the construction of useful scales of youth problem behavior and in light of recent epidemiologic evidence and policy initiatives concerning the prevalence of child psychopathology.