The Relationship of Behavior to Adjustment in a Representative Sample of Children

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Abstract
Variability in diagnostic criteria does not reliably premit early casefinding of psychiatrically significant behavior deviations in school children. A defininition of abnormal behavior is proposed based on the coexistence of deviant behavior, maladjustment, and disturbances of function. The application of a standard method for evaluating children with behavior deviations is demonstrated. The relationship between behavior and adjustment is examined through mothers'' reports about 482 children comprising a representative, non-psychiatric population sample. When 25% of the children having the worst scores in behavior and adjustment are defined as deviant, a significant association at a low correlation level is found between the 2 modalities. The specific deviant behaviors found to be associated with maladjustment are presented and discussed in relation to age. The predictive accuracy of deviant behavior for coexisting maladjustment and the relative risk of maladjustment with increasing numbers of deviant behaviors are both seen to rise with the progressive constriction of the proportion of children defined as deviant.

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