In conclusion, the results of the present study are consistent with the hypothesis that a large part of the association between maltreatment and conduct problems is the result of a nonpassive gene-environment correlation in which caregivers respond to children’s conduct problems by maltreating them. The remaining part of the association may reflect either environmental mediation or the passive gene-environment correlation resulting from common genetic influences on parents’ potential to maltreat and children’s potential for conduct problems. Preventing maltreatment is important in its own right, but this preliminary study suggests that it may be less important as a means to prevent development of conduct problems than is often assumed. Rather, this study’s results suggest that interventions with parents intended to eliminate maltreatment should address how to respond to children’s conduct problems. Such interventions may both reduce maltreatment by giving caregivers more appropriate strategies and reduce children’s conduct problems. This is consistent with the finding that Parent Training, which provides parents with appropriate strategies for responding to children’s conduct problems, both is an efficacious treatment for conduct disorder and provides a variety of benefits to caregivers (Kazdin 2005; Adams 2001).
