ABSTRACT
Conduct disorder is a familial disorder with evidence from twin and adoption studies for both genetic and shared environment effects (Cadoret, Yates, Troughton, Woodworth, & Stewart, 1995; Eley, Lichtenstein, & Stevenson, 1999; Langbehn, Cadoret, Yates, Troughton, & Stewart, 1998; Rutter, 1997; Rutter, Silberg, O'Connor, & Simonoff, 1999). Recent studies have found considerable stability in antisocial behavior from the pre-school or kindergarten period onward, suggesting that for some children the preceding period (from birth to preschool) may be an important risk period for the development of persistent antisocial behavior (Caspi, Moffitt, Newman, & Silva, 1996; Nagin & Tremblay, 1999). Given these data, it would seem logical to examine the early family environment, from birth to school age, of children from families with antisocial mothers. Yet there are few such studies (Cassidy, Zoccolillo, & Hughes, 1996; Fagot, Pears, Capaldi, Crosby, & Leve, 1998; Serbin et al., 1998; Wakschlag & Hans, 1999), and little is known about the early family environment of children growing up in families with antisocial mothers.
