This study focuses on the prediction of early adolescent involvement with antisocial peers from boys' experiences in school, family, and behavior at age 10. Two hundred and six boys and their families were assessed at school, interviewed, observed in the home, and then followed up at age 12. Poor parental discipline and monitoring practices, peer rejection, and academic failure at age 10 were prognostic of involvement with antisocial peers at age 12. We also found considerable continuity between the boys' antisocial behavior and contact with antisocial peers at age 10 and subsequent contact at age 12. After we controlled for such continuity, only academic failure and peer rejection remained as significant predictors. These data indicate a need to study the ecological context of deviant peer networks in middle childhood.

We examined autistic behavior in a cross-sectional sample of 179 children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and a longitudinal subset of 116 children using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) to (a) determine a prevalence of autistic behavior in FXS, (b) examine the stability of autistic ratings over time, and (c) assess the association between the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) and autistic behavior. Approximately 21% of the sample of 129 children (25.9% of boys) scored at or above the cutoff for autism. CARS scores increased slowly, yet significantly, over time, and low levels of FMRP were associated with higher mean levels of autistic behavior as measured by the CARS.

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This study examines problem behavior over time in 59 boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS), aged 4-12 years, using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Approximately 49% of the boys scored within the borderline or clinical range on total problem behavior, while 56-57% scored in the borderline or clinical range on the attention and thought problems subscales, and 26% scored in this range on the social problems subscale. With a mean of 2.5 assessments per child, behavior problems were stable during the 3-year period of study. Total problem behavior was higher for children who displayed autistic behavior, were rated as low in adaptability, had mothers with higher maternal education levels, and were on medication. Mothers with more education also rated their children as having more attention, thought, and total problems. Children taking medication differed from boys who were not taking medication on social problems, but not on attention and thought problems. Low adaptability and more autistic characteristics predicted thought problems.

Intergenerational poverty is pernicious. Impairments in cognitive development, school performance, and social competence are all associated with growing up poor (Duncan &