Relations between intelligence index score discrepancies and psychopathology symptoms in the EDEN mother-child birth cohort

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential linkages between intelligence and psychopathology across the full IQ range, while considering both absolute IQ scores and discrepancies between them. We drew data from the EDEN mother-child birth cohort, gathered at two time points: 5.5 and 11.5 years of age. We examined three instruments assessing psychopathology: the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Mental Health and Social Inadaptation Assessment for Adolescents. We focused on four distinct scales: internalizing disorder, conduct disorder, social problems, and ADHD symptoms.

Our analyses first examined correlations between Full-scale IQ, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and psychopathology scores. Subsequently, we explored correlations between absolute and relative verbal-performance IQ discrepancies and psychopathology scores. In general, we found that relations between intelligence index scores and psychopathology scales were generally null or negative (high IQ associated with fewer psychopathology symptoms). Our results do not lend support to the hypothesis that high intelligence or index score discrepancies are risk factors for psychopathology in children and adolescents.