NCJ Number
122798
Date Published
1977
Length
306 pages
Annotation
From July 1972 to June 1974, two psychologists conducted a followup study of a multiracial cohort of youth born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, in 1955, and about 600 youth or 90 percent of the original sample participated.
Abstract
The longitudinal study began in the perinatal period and assessed the reproductive histories and physical and emotional status of mothers from the fourth week of gestation to delivery. The study continued with an evaluation of the cumulative effects of perinatal stress and quality of family environment on the physical, intellectual, and social development of children at 2 and 10 years. Of the 2 percent who suffered severe perinatal stress and survived to late adolescence, four out of five had serious behavior, learning, and physical problems. About 3 percent were diagnosed as needing placement in a learning disability class at age 10 on the basis of serious reading and communication problems. About 4 percent were considered to need 6 months or more of mental health services at age 10 because of emotional problems. Most youth who became delinquent in adolescence were considered to need remedial education, special class placement, or mental health services by age 10. Children of poor parents were overrepresented among all groups of youth at risk. Only one out of three youth with serious learning and behavior problems in middle childhood and adolescence benefited from some agency intervention. Appendixes contain the study instruments and scores, major study findings, and case summaries. 137 references, 49 tables.