Association of atopic dermatitis with delinquent behaviors in US children and adolescents

Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with chronic itch, pain and sleep disturbance, which may predispose children to high-risk behaviors in their school and home environments. We examined the association between AD and delinquent/high-risk behaviors in children and adolescents. Data were analyzed from The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study consisting of 4898 children born in urban cities between 1998 and 2000. A 1-year history of AD was associated with ≥ 75th percentile of mean delinquent behavior scores at age 9 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% confidence interval] 1.39 [1.14–1.68]), but not age 15 (1.05 [0.86–1.29]). At age 9, a 1-year history of AD was associated with a higher number of delinquent behaviors (adjusted risk ratio [95% CI] 1.12 [1.03–1.23]). AD at ages 5 (aOR [95%CI] 1.31 [1.04–1.64]) and 9 (1.38 [1.14–1.67]) was associated with the highest quartile of mean delinquent behavior scores at ages 9 or 15. Children with AD persisting at multiple age groups had significantly increased odds of ≥ 75th percentile of mean delinquent behavior scores at age 15 (aOR [95%CI] 1.41 [1.09–1.81]). AD was found to be associated with the following delinquent problems: damaging property (aOR [95%CI] 1.38 [1.08–1.77]), cheating on a test (1.62 [1.17–2.26]), fist fight involvement (1.47 [1.21–1.79]) and school suspension (1.36 [1.08–1.71]). This study suggests that childhood AD may precede the onset of delinquent and high-risk behaviors later in childhood and adolescence.