Behaviour problems and adults with Down syndrome: childhood risk factors.
Early behavior and skill level in Down syndrome predict adult severe behavior problems far more than family environment or age.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bailey (2008) tracked adults with Down syndrome back to their childhood files. The team looked for early signs that predicted severe behavior problems later in life.
They checked childhood psychopathology, daily living skills, and family background. Then they saw which adults ended up with serious behavior disorders.
What they found
Two childhood red flags stood out: early mental health issues and low daily living skills. Family life details did not predict adult behavior trouble.
In plain words, the kid's own early functioning mattered more than how rich or supportive the home was.
How this fits with other research
Smith et al. (2014) extends this view. They asked, "Do behavior problems get worse as adults with Down syndrome age?" The answer was no. Behavior stayed flat, so childhood risk, not age, drives adult outcomes.
McLennan et al. (2008) adds a twist. They found adults with Down syndrome have lower rates of mental ill-health than other adults with intellectual disability. Bailey (2008) narrows the lens: within Down syndrome, childhood functioning still predicts who gets the most severe cases.
Prasher et al. (1995) and Sturmey et al. (1996) show that new behavior changes in adults often point to dementia or depression, not lifelong patterns. Together the papers say: watch for sudden change (medical cause) versus stable severe history (childhood roots).
Why it matters
If you assess a child with Down syndrome, flag early behavior diagnoses and skill delays now. These notes will help future teams know the behavior is long-standing, not a new medical crisis. Use this history to plan stronger skill-building goals today and to avoid blaming families later.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies of people with intellectual disability suggest that several individual characteristics and environmental factors are associated with behaviour disorder. To date there are few studies looking at risk factors within specific syndromes and the relationship between early risk markers and later behaviour disorder. The key aim of the study was to determine if childhood risk factors were predictors of severe behaviour disorder in young adults with Down syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study of 50 people with Down syndrome was assessed with the same behavioural measure used in both childhood and adult life. The early risk factors which were assessed included childhood functioning, childhood psychopathology and early family environment as determined by measures of parental mental health, quality of parental marriage and social background. RESULTS: Childhood psychopathology and functioning were associated with severe behaviour disorder in adult life whereas childhood family environment was not. CONCLUSIONS: Children with Down syndrome at risk for severe behaviour disorder in adult life may be identified in childhood and appropriate interventions offered to reduce their risk.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2008 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2008.01104.x