Path analysis was used to discover predictors of personality, school conduct, and distractibility-hyperactivity problems in this 4-year longitudinal study of 173 rural children. While previous studies had shown that children's behavior disorders are related to sex of child, family disruption, IQ, Bender-Gestalt Test scores, and socioeconomic status, this investigation attempted to assess the extent to which these variables conjointly predict behavior problems over time. At the first-grade level, Slosson IQ, Bender Gestalt Test scores, and occupation of the chief wage earner in the family were established for each child. From second through fourth grades, information on parental marital status was also obtained. In all four grades, teachers rated each child on a 20-item behavior problem checklist. Results indicated that a combination of Slosson IQ, Bender Gestalt Test performance, sex of child, and prior behavior problems was the best predictor of subsequent problems. Personality problems were best predicted by IQ, Bender performance, and prior personality problem scores. In addition to the above variables, sex of child was important in the prediction of conduct and distractibility-hyperactivity problems. Patterns of effects differentiated personality problems from conduct and distractibility-hyperactivity problems, but did not differentiate between conduct and distractibility-hyperactivity problems. This finding indicated that the latter two variables may belong to a more global syndrome of conduct-related disorders. (CB)