Peer status and the directionality of symptomatic behavior: Prime social competence predictors of outcome for vulnerable children.

Abstract
Social competence data from four target groups of vulnerable children--children of schizophrenic mothers; children of neurotic mothers; clinic children with externalizing symptomology; clinic children with internalizing symptomology--and from a large control group of their public school classmates, strongly suggest that peer-rated social incompetence and presence of externalizing behavior disorders are the best predictors of which vulnerable children run the greatest risk of poor adult outcome.
Funding Information
  • USPHS (01-2415241, NH-06170)
  • A.A. Scottish Rite
  • University of Vermont