Two studies have identified groups
of girls exhibiting chronically high levels
of antisocial
behavior across childhood and early adolescence and having an increased risk for continued antisocial
behavior.60 In addition, Odgers and several colleagues found that 7.5 percent
of all girls between the ages
of seven and fifteen
displayed an early - onset
of offending that persisted into adolescence and that this pattern was similar to boys
of the same age.61 Other studies suggest that although strongly
aggressive behavior in girls before the age
of seven is rare, continuity
of offending for such girls may be stronger than that among comparable boys and that such early problem
behavior in girls should be considered a significant warning
sign of potential future problems.62