Girls’ Disruptive Behavior and its Relationship to Family Functioning: A Review

Abstract

Although a number of reviews of gender differences in disruptive behavior and parental socialization exist, we extend this literature by addressing the question of differential development among girls and by placing both disruptive behavior and parenting behavior in a developmental framework. Clarifying the heterogeneity of development in girls is important for developing and optimizing gender-specific prevention and treatment programs. In the current review, we describe the unique aspects of the development of disruptive behavior in girls and explore how the gender-specific development of disruptive behavior can be explained by family linked risk and protective processes. Based on this review, we formulate a gender-specific reciprocal model of the influence of social factors on the development of disruptive behavior in girls in order to steer further research and better inform prevention and treatment programs.

Gender, Family Functioning, and Violence across Immigrant Generations

“…Research and theorizing on gendered socialization suggests that the influence of family factors on antisocial behavior should be stronger for girls than boys (Chesney-Lind 1997;Kroneman et al 2009;Kruttschnitt and Giordano 2009). In other words, even if boys and girls experience similar levels of parental supervision or support, the protective benefits of these experiences should reduce delinquency more for girls than boys because they have been socialized into more passive gender roles, which emphasize relational bonding and a stronger adherence to parental norms (Fagan et al 2011).…”

Suicidal Risk in Adolescent Residential Treatment: Being Female Is More Important Than a Depression Diagnosis

“…Numbers in superscript indicate statistically significant differences between groups based on pairwise comparisons studies have found referred females to display more risk factors then referred males (e.g. Chamberlain and Reid 1994;Connor et al 2004;Fasulo et al 2002;Handwerk et al 2006;Kroneman et al 2009;McCabe et al 2002;Weis et al 2005). Another explanation may be that female's symptoms may simply tend to be more severe.…”

“…Additionally, there may be phenotypical differences in the disruptive behavior displayed by female youth. Males have an increased likelihood for physical aggression, while females are more likely to exhibit conflicts with authority figures (Lahey et al 2000;Maughan et al 2000) and display relational aggression (e.g., ostracizing and rumor spreading; Kroneman et al 2009). Thus, while many residential treatment programs were originally designed to serve male youth, the increase in disruptive behavior exhibited by female adolescents has led to an influx of females being referred to residential treatment (Weis et al 2005).…”

“…In examining gender differences in youth in residential programs, research indicates that prior to entering residential treatment female adolescents, more often than males, present with a history of sexual and/or physical abuse (Chamberlain and Reid 1994;Handwerk et al 2006;Weis et al 2005), dysfunctional family patterns (Connor et al 2004;Kroneman et al 2009;McCabe et al 2002), two or more run away attempts (Fasulo et al 2002), and multiple out-of-home placements (Smith et al 2001). Additionally, while both male and female adolescents entering residential care may exhibit some degree of externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, females tend to present with a higher degree of internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety (Handwerk et al 2006;Hussey and Guo 2002;Offord et al 1991;Weis et al 2005).…”

Gerelateerde ontwikkeling van externaliserend gedrag en opvoedgedrag bij kinderen en adolescenten

“…Deze gelijke mate van verandering in overreactiviteit suggereert dat de verschillende beginniveaus van overreactiviteit bij jongens en meisjes hun oorsprong hebben in de vroege(re) kindertijd. De sterkere oriëntatie van meisjes dan jongens op sociale relaties (Kroneman, Loeber, Hipwell, & Koot, 2009) is een mogelijke verklaring voor de bevinding dat overreactiviteit seksespecifiek is: omdat meisjes meer meegaand zijn dan jongens, zouden ouders minder geneigd kunnen zijn overreactiviteit te vertonen bij meisjes. Voor warmte vonden we wel een seksespecifieke ontwikkeling.…”