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High novelty seeking as a predictor of antisocial behaviour in early adulthood
Author(s) -
Foulds James,
Boden Joseph,
Horwood John,
Mulder Roger
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
personality and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1932-863X
pISSN - 1932-8621
DOI - 10.1002/pmh.1393
Subject(s) - psychology , antisocial personality disorder , novelty seeking , endophenotype , novelty , association (psychology) , young adult , clinical psychology , population , early adulthood , substance use , psychiatry , developmental psychology , injury prevention , poison control , personality , big five personality traits , demography , medicine , cognition , medical emergency , social psychology , sociology , psychotherapist
Objective This study aimed to examine the association between novelty seeking (NS) and antisocial behaviours (age 18–35). Method A New Zealand general population birth cohort was studied from 1977 to 2012. Sample sizes ranged from n = 962 (age 35) to n = 1025 (age 18). NS was measured at age 16 using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Perpetration of antisocial behaviours was ascertained by self‐report at ages 18, 21, 25, 30 and 35. Generalized estimating equation models investigated the association between NS and antisocial behaviours net of individual factors and correlates of NS before age 16 and alcohol and substance use disorders at age 18–35. Results Higher NS scores were associated with a higher unadjusted incidence of all forms of antisocial behaviour. Assault, theft, property damage and dishonesty offending remained associated with NS after adjustment for individual factors and correlates of NS before age 16. After further adjustment for alcohol and substance use disorders, NS was not associated with any antisocial behaviour outcomes, suggesting those disorders mediate the association between NS and antisocial behaviours. Conclusion Alcohol and substance use disorders mediate the association between NS and antisocial behaviours in early adulthood. NS may be a useful endophenotype for investigating the causation of externalizing behaviours. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.