The results of a recent 3-year follow-up of the large UK study of child health found that different risk factors predicted the onset and the persistence of mental and behavior disorders in youth.72 Aside from the well-established demographic characteristics of youth, onset of emotional disorders was predicted by physical illness, changes in the number of parents in the home, the number of children at home and poor maternal mental health. Predictors of conduct disorder onset included low income, rented accommodations, low maternal education, living in a reconstituted family, special educational needs of the child and changes in maternal mental health over time. Accumulation of stressful life events predicted the onset of either type of disorder across the 3-year followup period. Persistence of mental disorders in general was predicted by poor maternal mental health, low socioeconomic status, and rented accommodations. The UK study also investigated strengths of the child that tend to protect against, mental disorder.72 Although the report did not describe the inter-relationships of these risk factors, it is apparent, that, the social context of the child, particularly a lack of stability of the home environment, has substantial influence on both the onset, and persistence of mental disorders.
