Family factors among children with conduct disorder attending tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka

Background: Conduct disorder is a persistent behavioral pattern in children and adolescents marked by repeated violations of social norms and the rights of others, leading to significant impairment in social, academic, and family functioning across multiple settings. Objective: To explore the family factors among children with conduct disorder. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional, observational study that was conducted at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, and the Department of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, from March 2018 to August 2019. Using a convenient sampling technique, 150 parents of children with conduct disorder (both boys and girls) aged 7 to 18 years were recruited. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to the socio-demographic data of the children and parents, and an additional instrument, the Questionnaire for Family Factors, was used to assess family-related variables. Result: Children with conduct disorder in Group-I had significantly fewer shared family meals 40(54.8%) than Group-II 12(17.4%) (p<0.05). More Group-I children lived with a deceased parent 5(6.8%), had a jailed parent 10(13.7%), and witnessed parental violence 37(50.7%) compared to Group-II (p<0.05). Living with a mentally ill family member 24(32.9%) and experiencing parental marital conflict 27(37.0%) were also higher in Group-I (p<0.05). Poor couple relationships 16(21.9%) and separated or divorced parents 13(17.7%) were more frequent in Group-I (p<0.05). Parental criminality was present only in Group-I 10(13.7%) (p<0.05). Parent–child relationships were less warm in Group-I 31(42.4%) compared to Group-II 52(75.4%) (p<0.05). All other family factors were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study suggests that multiple family and socioeconomic factors contribute to the development of conduct disorder, with no single factor solely responsible. Further research is needed to identify the relative influence of these mediating factors to better understand and address conduct disorder among children.