Abstract
From a large sample of 7-yr-olds in Dunedin, New Zealand, a group of 52 boys and 32 girls with stable behaviour problems was selected and compared with the remainder of the sample. The groups did not differ in terms of perinatal problems except for a higher prevalence of being small for gestational age in the problem group. The mothers of the problem children tended to be younger, to have lower mental ability and poorer health than the rest of the sample. The families of the problem children were rated as having poorer relationships, and there was more parental separation and solo parenting in this group. Finally, the children with stable problems showed cognitive delays at age 7 yr.