The aim of this study was to examine how the magnitude and change in youth internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors across childhood and adolescence were connected to theoretically meaningful outcomes in adulthood. Two central questions were addressed: First, do the effects of externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors sustain or decay over time in their relation to later adulthood outcomes? Second, if so, which informants in children's lives (mothers, fathers, teachers, and the children themselves) provide the strongest predictive ability? Utilizing a longitudinal, high-risk sample that followed children (N=1,069) and their families for several decades, the current study employed structural equation modeling to estimate growth models for each informant, test the latent growth parameters for their prediction of later outcomes, and examine whether significant associations held above and beyond a series of covariates. Findings suggest that overall, children's internalizing problem behaviors carry less weight towards long-term functioning than the presence of externalizing problem behaviors, while externalizing problem behaviors carry implications even above relevant familial and child-based covariates for subsequent timing of transitions, romantic relationship quality, educational attainment, income, and legal infractions. Most of these outcomes were predicted by two or more informants, and the pattern of results suggest that parent-reports possess reasonably good predictive validity, but that teacher-reports in particular possess uniquely strong associations with outcomes. Additional clinical and research implications are discussed.
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