CHILDHOOD HYPERACTIVITY AND THE MOTHER-CHILD-RELATIONSHIP AS PREDICTORS OF RISK TYPE-A BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENCE - A 6-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Six- and 9-yr-old children (n = 924) were followed over a period of 6 yr to study whether childhood behavioural characteristics and mother-child relationship can predict risk Type A behaviour in adolescence. It was found that risk Type A behaviour in adolescence was anteceded by childhood hyperactivity and hostile maternal child-rearing practices, i.e. by a strict disciplinary style, as well as a tendency to become tired with the child and to emotionally reject him or her. The results refer to two points: (1) the Type A pattern in childhood is a certain Type A-prone temperament characterized by hyperactivity and restlessness. This behaviour is likely to overstrain the mother and to require a considerable amount of disciplining; (2) instead of attributing the origins of Type A behaviour to the child there may be a Type A predisposing mother, i.e. a mother who cannot tolerate the child's activity, easily punishes and emotionally rejects the child.