An investigation of the causal pathways from childhood conduct problems to poor health outcomes and criminal behaviour in adulthood (360G-Wellcome-209138_Z_17_Z)

Conduct problems (CPs) are common across childhood and adolescence and there is increasing evidence from prospective, longitudinal studies that they may impact on a wide range of adverse outcomes in adulthood including antisocial behaviour and offending, psychiatric disorders, and poor physical health. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding processes underlying the strong associations observed. Additionally, less is known about the long-term consequences of CPs in low- and middle-income countries. Using two population-based birth cohorts in the UK and Brazil, the aims of this proposal are to: 1) Examine how different patterns of CPs across childhood and adolescence relate to adverse outcomes in adulthood (criminal behaviour, psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease risk). 2) Test three hypothesised explanations for the associations observed, comprising: a) Exposure to ongoing adversity across the life-course; b) Shared genetic and early-life environmental risk factors; c) Potential "snares" in young adulthood (i.e. mediators of the association between CPs and adverse outcomes). The overarching goal of this research is to identify a short-list of potential intervention targets to reduce the risk of negative consequences arising from childhood CPs. Therefore, I will also conduct a feasibility study to examine the potential of modifying the intervention targets identified from the research.