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This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Oxford University Press via http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyv340 ; BACKGROUND: Youth violence is a major global public health problem. Three UK and Swedish studies suggest that low resting heart rate predicts male youth violence, but this has not been tested in other social settings nor for females. METHODS: A prospective, population-based birth cohort study was conducted in Pelotas, Brazil. Heart rate was measured using a wrist monitor at ages 11, 15 and 18 years. Violent crime and non-violent crime were measured at age 18 in self-reports and official records (N = 3618). Confounding variables were assessed in the perinatal period and at age 11, in interviews with mothers and children. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between quartiles of heart rate at each age, and violent and non-violent crime at age 18, separately for males and females. RESULTS: Lower resting heart rate was a robust correlate of violent and non-violent crime for males. Comparing males in the lowest and top quartiles of heart rate at age 15 years, adjusted odds ratios were 1.9 for violent crime [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-2.7] and 1.7 for non-violent crime (95% CI 1.1-2.6). For females, crime outcomes were associated only with low resting heart rate at age 18. Associations were generally linear across the four heart rate quartiles. There was no evidence that associations differed according to socioeconomic status at age 15. CONCLUSIONS: Low resting heart rate predicted violent and non-violent crime for males, and was cross-sectionally associated with crime for females. Biological factors may contribute to individual propensity to commit crime, even in a middle-income setting with high rates of violence. ; The 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study is currently supported by the Wellcome Trust through the programme entitled Major Awards for Latin America on Health Consequences of Population Change. The European Union, National Support Program for Centers of Excellence (PRONEX), the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq), the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health supported previous phases of the study. J.M. is supported by the Wellcome Trust [grant number 089963/Z/09/Z]. P.H. is supported by the Wellcome Trust through a New Investigator Award.

AbstractPurposeExamine associations between childhood behavioural problems with criminal behaviour, emotional disorders, substance use and unemployment in early adulthood in two birth cohorts from a middle- and high-income country.MethodsData were utilised from large, prospective birth cohorts in Brazil (1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort;N = 3939) and the UK (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; ALSPAC;N = 5079). Behavioural problems were reported on by parents at age 11 years (including disobeys, temper, lies, fights, steals). Outcomes (assessed with youth between ages 22 and 24 years) included criminal behaviour, emotional disorders, substance use and NEET (not in education, employment or training).ResultsIn both cohorts, children with 'conduct problems' (those with increased probability of all five behaviours at age 11), were at higher risk of criminal behaviour, emotional disorders and NEET in adulthood compared to those with 'low problems'. Associations for 'conduct problems' were stronger in Pelotas compared to ALSPAC for hazardous alcohol use [Pelotas: risk ratio = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.14–1.70; ALSPAC: risk ratio = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.57–1.02] and illegal drug use [Pelotas: risk ratio = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.16–1.50; ALSPAC: risk ratio = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.91–1.20], whereas associations for criminal behaviour [Pelotas: risk ratio = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.29–2.86; ALSPAC: risk ratio = 2.75, 95% CI = 2.04–3.73] and NEET [Pelotas: risk ratio = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.13–1.70; ALSPAC: risk ratio = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.99–4.65] were stronger in ALSPAC.ConclusionsChildhood conduct problems were associated with criminal behaviour, emotional disorders and unemployment in adulthood in both Brazil and the UK. Additional associations were found for substance use in Brazil.

AbstractPoor school performance may increase the risk of crime and violence via effects on self-esteem, risky behaviours, peer networks, and perceived stakes in society. Despite very high rates of violence in Latin America, no longitudinal research has addressed this issue in the region. Two aspects of educational performance (grade repetition and school completion) were examined during adolescence in a population-based Brazilian birth cohort study (n = 3584). Violent and non-violent crime were measured at age 22 years in confidential self-reports; sociodemographic, family, and individual confounders were measured between birth and age 11 years, and potential mediators were measured at age 18 years. The prevalence of violent and non-violent crimes at 22 years was 8.2% and 3.3%, respectively, referring to acts in the previous twelve months. For youth repeating school grades three times or more, the odds of violent crime were 2.4 (95%CI: 1.6–3.6) times higher than for those who had not repeated any school grade. Youth completing school had a lower risk for both violent (OR = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.4–0.7) and non-violent crime (OR = 0.3; 95%CI: 0.2–0.5), compared to those who did not finish school by the expected age. The protective effect of completing school was independent of the number of grades previously repeated. In conclusion, repeating school grades was associated with increased risk for crime; however, successfully managing to complete school by the expected age was an important protective factor against crime, even after multiple grade repetitions.