Implications of childhood externalizing problems for young adults

This study uses data from a national sample of married individuals and their offspring to explore the relationships between childhood externalizing problems and adult psychological well-being, social support, and intimate relationship quality. The results indicate that childhood problems predict lower levels of adult psychological well-being, kin support, and relationship quality. The relationship between childhood problems and adult intimate relationship quality, and that between childhood problems and later parent-child relationship quality, is explained after accounting for the reciprocal influences of childhood problems and the quality of teen parent-child relations. This finding suggests that the best way for parents to prevent and offset their offspring's difficulties is to maintain quality relationships with them.