SAGE Journal Articles

Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Article 1: Murray, J., & Farrington, D. P. (2010). Risk factors for conduct disorder and delinquency: Key findings from longitudinal studies. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55, 633–642. doi:10.1177/070674371005501003

Learning Objective: 9.2 Discuss some of the main causes of children’s conduct problems across genetic, biological, psychological, familial, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Summary: This review summarizes the results of several longitudinal studies examining family, social, and individual risk factors for conduct disorder.

Questions to Consider:

  1. How similar are conduct disorder and delinquency? Defend your answer.
  2. This study lists a number of risk factors, but some are stronger than others. Which factors are the strongest? How might we intervene with these?
  3. Now that a number of factors have been consistently identified, what are the next steps in this line of research?
     

Article 2: Lewis, R. M., Petch, V., Wilson, N., Fox, S., & Craig, C. E. (2015). Understanding conduct disorder: The ways in which mothers attempt to make sense of their children’s behavior. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 20, 570–584. doi:10.1177/1359104514538040

Learning Objective: 9.2 Discuss some of the main causes of children’s conduct problems across genetic, biological, psychological, familial, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Summary: This qualitative study of six mothers of children with conduct disorder examined how mothers understand their children’s behavior and what it means to seek treatment.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this type of design?
  2. The mothers in the study seemed to shift point of view depending on the topic and their emotions. What were your thoughts on their understanding of what caused their children’s behavior?
  3. The mothers reported negative feelings about treatment, including shame and stigma. If this is a common experience, how can we help parents to feel more comfortable seeking treatment?