A Twin‐Singleton Comparison of Problem Behaviour in 2‐3‐Year‐Olds

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1995.tb01302.x
• Publication Date: 2006-12-08T00:40:28Z
• Authors: Edwin J. C. G. va...; Hans M. Koot; Dorret I. Boomsma; Frank C. Verhulst; J. F. Orlebeke
• Keywords: Netherlands Twin Register (NTR); Adult; Male; 05 social sciences; Gender Identity; Child Behavior Disorders; Personality Assessment; Aggression; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child, Preschool; Diseases in Twins; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Maternal Age; Netherlands

Abstract Twin‐singleton differences in problem behaviours in 2–3‐year‐olds were studied. Maternal ratings of children's problem behaviours were obtained with the CBCL/2–3. The twin sample Consisted d 1863 twin pairs (456 MZ, 907 DZ), the sample of singletons consisted of 420 children from the general population. Results indicated that the general level of problem behaviours in twins was broadly comparable to that in singletons. Four of the seven syndromes showed lower scores for twins. These difference, however, were small and mainly caused In tower scores for DZ twins in comparison to MZ twins and singletons. Pan of the difference could be attributed to the higher maternal age in the twin groups I Higher means for boys were found for the total problem score, and the Aggressive and Overactive syndromes.