The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between behavior problems in childhood and long-term consequences in adulthood in the general population. This relationship is explored from several perspectives looking at studies with differing methodological designs. Relevant studies were selected by conducting a systematic literature search. The most comprehensive findings concerned substance use, aggression, and life-failure outcomes in adulthood. The most common statistics in which these were given was correlations and group differences. From the latter statistics for groups were recalculated to compute effect sizes between groups with and without behaviour problems in childhood (Cohens-d or Odds Ratio). The results indicated a weak, positive relationship between behavioural problems in childhood and life-failure or aggression outcomes in adulthood, although results varied with regard to statistical significance. Few outcomes related to substance use in adulthood could be traced back to childhood behaviour. Practical and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.