Publications (36) View all
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Article: Bullying at age eight and criminality in adulthood: findings from the Finnish Nationwide 1981 Birth Cohort Study.
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ABSTRACT: There are no prospective population-based studies examining predictive associations between childhood bullying behavior and adult criminality. To study predictive associations between bullying and victimization at age eight and adult criminal offenses. Nationwide birth cohort study from age 8 to 26 years. The sample consists of 5,351 Finnish children born in 1981 with information about bullying and victimization at age eight from parents, teachers, and the children themselves. National police register information about criminal offenses at age 23-26 years. When controlled for the parental education level and psychopathology score, bullying sometimes and frequently independently predicted violent (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.9-7.9, p < 0.001; OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-4.1, p < 0.001, respectively), property (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.7, p < 0.05; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7, p < 0.05), and traffic (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.8-4.4, p < 0.001; OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.1, p < 0.001) offenses. The strongest predictive association was between bullying frequently and more than five crimes during the 4-year period (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2.8-15.3, p < 0.001) in adjusted analyses. When different informants were compared, teacher reports of bullying were the strongest predictor of adult criminality. In adjusted analyses, male victimization did not independently predict adult crime. Among girls, bullying or victimization at age eight were not associated with adult criminality. Bullying among boys signals an elevated risk of adult criminality.Social Psychiatry 12/2010; 46(12):1211-9. · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Childhood bullying behavior and later psychiatric hospital and psychopharmacologic treatment: findings from the Finnish 1981 birth cohort study.
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ABSTRACT: No prospective population-based study examining predictive associations between childhood bullying behavior and long-term mental health outcomes in both males and females exists. To study predictive associations between bullying and victimization in childhood and later psychiatric hospital and psychopharmacologic treatment. Nationwide birth cohort study from age 8 to 24 years. Five thousand thirty-eight Finnish children born in 1981 with complete information about bullying and victimization at age 8 years from parents, teachers, and self-reports. National register-based lifetime information about psychiatric hospital treatments and psychopharmacologic medication prescriptions. When controlled for psychopathology score, frequent victim status at age 8 years among females independently predicted psychiatric hospital treatment and use of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic drugs. Among males, frequent bully-victim and bully-only statuses predicted use of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs. Frequent bully-victim status among males also predicted psychiatric hospital treatment and use of antipsychotics. However, when the analysis was controlled with total psychopathology score at age 8 years, frequent bully, victim, or bully-victim status did not predict any psychiatric outcomes among males. Boys and girls who display frequent bullying behavior should be evaluated for possible psychiatric problems, as bullying behaviors in concert with psychiatric symptoms are early markers of risk of psychiatric outcome. Among females, frequent childhood victimization predicts later psychiatric problems irrespective of psychiatric problems at baseline.Archives of general psychiatry 10/2009; 66(9):1005-12. · 12.26 Impact Factor -
Article: Childhood psychopathology and sense of coherence at age 18: findings from the Finnish from a boy to a man study.
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ABSTRACT: To examine associations between childhood psychopathology and family factors at age 8, and sense of coherence (SOC) at age 18. The sample includes 2,314 Finnish boys born 1981 with information about psychopathology from parents and teachers using Rutter scales, and self-reports of depressive symptoms using Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and self-reports of SOC at age 18. Low parental education level and living in other than two biological parent family at age 8 were associated with low SOC 10 years later. Boys with internalizing symptoms based on parent/teacher reports, and depressive symptoms based on self-reports at age 8 were at risk for lower SOC at follow-up. Comorbidity of internalizing and conduct problems had the strongest association with low SOC. The study shows that internalizing symptoms, comorbid conduct and emotional problems, low parental education level and nonintact family at age 8 predict low SOC at age 18. Future research whether universal, selective or indicated early interventions targeted on risk factors of childhood mental health problems may result in promotion of well-being (including good SOC) in early adulthood is warranted.Social Psychiatry 04/2009; 44(12):1097-105. · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Sense of coherence and criminal offences among young males. Findings from the Finnish From a Boy to a Man study.
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ABSTRACT: The aim is to study associations between sense of coherence (SOC), and criminality among young males. The sample included 2314 males born 1981. Information about self-reports of SOC was obtained from obligatory military call-up. Information about criminality was obtained from the Finnish National Police Register. Self-reported poor SOC was associated with all specific crime types. Poor SOC was especially associated with high level of criminal offences. The study shows the sensitivity of the SOC-13 scale to antisocial and rule-breaking behavior. Further studies to examine SOC as an evaluation measure of the effect of psychosocial interventions are warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)Nordic psychology 03/2009; 61(1):4-13. · 0.18 Impact Factor -
Article: Early intervention improves behavioral outcomes for preterm infants: randomized controlled trial.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an early intervention program on behavioral outcomes at corrected age of 5 years for children with birth weights (BWs) of <2000 g. A randomized controlled trial of a modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program was performed. Outcomes were measured by the Child Behavior Check List report (parents) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 5 years (parents and preschool teachers). A total of 146 infants were assigned randomly (intervention group: 72 infants; reference group: 74 infants). A term group was recruited (75 infants). The mean BWs were 1396 ± 429 g for the intervention group, 1381 ± 436 g for the control group, and 3619 ± 490 g for the term reference group. Parents in the intervention group reported significantly fewer behavioral problems measured by both instruments at 5 years. There were no differences in behavior problems reported by preschool teachers. Significantly more children in the preterm control group scored within the clinical area of both instruments. This modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program led to fewer behavioral problems reported by parents at corrected age of 5 years for children with BWs of <2000 g.PEDIATRICS 12/2011; 129(1):e9-e16. · 4.47 Impact Factor
