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Difficulties Questionnaire (difficulty + questionnaire)
Selected AbstractsThe impact of language skills on mental health in teenagers with hearing impairmentsACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2009J. Fellinger Objective:, The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of language competence level and mental distress in teenagers with hearing impairments. Method:, 43 pupils were given a battery of linguistic tests and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which was also completed by 40 parents. Comparisons were made between the group of 33 children in mainstream education and 10 who were in a segregated school for the deaf. Results:, The children had impaired language skills relative to published norms, especially marked in segregated schools. Parents rated children as having more distress than published norms. Those with superior level of spoken language had fewer peer relationship problems in mainstream education, but significantly more in segregated schools. The reverse was almost significant for those proficient in signed language. Conclusion:, Peer relationship problems are associated with the language competence levels in the way that children at school communicate with one another. [source] Short Report: Psychological adjustment of well siblings of children with Type 1 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 9 2010F. Sleeman Diabet. Med. 27, 1084,1087 (2010) Abstract Aims, Studies of siblings of children with Type 1 diabetes (Type 1 DM) have shown either increased levels of maladjustment or, alternatively, increased levels of pro-social behaviour according to whether the sibling or parent was interviewed. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological adjustment of Type 1 DM siblings using both parent and sibling report and to assess the concordance between child and parent reports. Methods, Ninety-nine siblings aged 11,17 years and parents of children with Type 1 DM treated at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne were recruited sequentially. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess well siblings' emotional and behavioural functioning using data collected within a semi-structured interview. SDQ data between the sibling cohort and normative data sample were compared using independent-samples t -tests. Sibling reports and parent reports were compared using a series of paired-sample t -tests and correlation analyses. Results, Type 1 DM siblings did not report greater emotional or behavioural maladjustment or more pro-social behaviour than norms. Parents rated siblings' pro-social behaviour as being comparable with that of youth from the general community; however, parents rated healthy siblings as having lower levels of maladjustment; specifically, significantly fewer conduct problems, hyperactive behaviour and peer-related problems (all P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between parent ratings and sibling ratings on peer-related problems or pro-social behaviour. Conclusions, Type 1 DM siblings did not report increased behavioural or emotional dysfunction relative to children in the general population and, according to their parents, were even better adjusted than their peers. [source] Dyslexia and psycho-social functioning: an exploratory study of the role of self-esteem and understandingDYSLEXIA, Issue 4 2009Melody M. Terras Abstract Individuals with dyslexia may have lower self-esteem and exhibit more emotional and behavioural difficulties than those without reading problems. However, the nature of any relationship between self-esteem and psychopathology remains unknown. This exploratory study assessed levels of self-esteem using the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Manual for the Self-Perception Profile for Children. University of Denver, CO: Denver; 1985) and psycho-social adjustment using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry, 1997; 38: 581,586) and examined child and parent understanding, attitudes and the perceived impact of reading difficulties on daily life. Sixty-eight children assessed as dyslexic on the basis of discrepancy scores (mean age 11.2 years; 44 male), and their parents, participated. No global self-esteem deficit was found, but the mean score for both child and parent-rated scholastic competence was significantly lower than that of the general population. Rates of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties were significantly higher than in the general population and were correlated with self-esteem. For children who had high global self-worth, both children and their parents had more positive attitudes towards their reading difficulties and were less likely to perceive a negative impact on relationships. The association between academic self-esteem and emotional symptoms is consistent with the proposed link between dyslexia and internalizing difficulties. Good self-esteem and a good understanding of dyslexia may help children avoid some of these difficulties. Further research with larger more representative samples is necessary as understanding the factors that promote successful psycho-social adjustment is essential to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Substance use and common child mental health problems: examining longitudinal associations in a British sampleADDICTION, Issue 8 2010Anna Goodman ABSTRACT Aims To examine the longitudinal associations in both directions between mental health and substance use in adolescence. Design Three-year longitudinal cohort. Setting Britain (nationally representative sample). Participants 3607 youths aged 11,16 years at baseline. Measurements Externalizing and internalizing mental health problems were measured using brief questionnaires (parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) and diagnostic interviews, including clinician-rated diagnoses of mental disorder. Substance use was measured by youth self-report, and included regular smoking, frequent alcohol consumption, regular cannabis use and ever taking other illicit drugs. Findings Externalizing (specifically behavioural) problems at baseline independently predicted all forms of substance use, with a particularly strong effect on smoking. In all cases this association showed a dose,response relationship. In contrast, although internalizing problems had a strong univariable association with smoking, this disappeared after adjusting for comorbid externalizing problems. There was little or no evidence that baseline substance use predicted mental health at follow-up. Conclusions Externalizing problems predict adolescent substance use, and adjusting for comorbid externalizing problems is vital when investigating the effects of internalizing problems. A dose,response effect of externalizing problems is seen across the full range. Programmes seeking to prevent adolescent substance use by reducing externalizing problems may therefore wish to consider population-wide interventions rather than targeting individuals only at the negative extreme. [source] Comorbidity between obesity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Population study with 13,15-year-oldsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 6 2006Luis Rojo MD Abstract Objective: This study analyzes whether obese children have a higher risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity "characteristics" (AD/HD) than do children with other nutritional states. Method: This study included 35,403 participants from 486 community schools. They completed the AD/HD scale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and were weighed and measured. 2879 of the participants were obese and 78 were morbidly obese (BMI >40). Results: A discrete, nonsignificant, increment was found in the AD/HD characteristics of male participants with morbid obesity, as compared with the other nutritional states. Among morbidly obese females, the prevalence of AD/HD characteristics was slightly superior, although not significantly, to that found in participants with normal weight, overweight or obese (BMI <40). Conclusion: Among nonclinical populations with a communitarian origin, previous findings reporting high rates of AD/HD in obese children are not replicated. This increment in the prevalence of AD/HD among hospitalized obese children could be the result of selection bias. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006 [source] Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version IV scale , parent formINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008Susan Shur-Fen Gau Abstract This study aimed to establish the psychometric properties of parent ratings on the Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV scale (SNAP-IV) in a school-based sample of 3534 students in grades 1 to 8 from two cities and two suburbs in Taiwan and 189 children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (aged 6 to 15) consecutively recruited from a medical center in Taipei. Parents completed the Chinese versions of the SNAP-IV, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Child Behavior Checklist. The Chinese SNAP-IV demonstrated similar three factor structure (Inattention, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, and Oppositional) as its English version, and satisfactory test,retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.59,0.72), internal consistency (alpha = 0.88,0.90), concurrent validity (Pearson correlations = 0.56,0.72), and discriminant validity. Boys scored higher than girls across the eight school grade levels. The SNAP-IV clearly distinguished children with ADHD from school-based participants. Comorbidity with oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder predicted higher SNAP-IV scores among children with ADHD. Our findings suggest that the Chinese SNAP-IV is a reliable and valid instrument for rating ADHD-related symptoms in both clinical and community settings in Taiwan. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Italian Preadolescent Mental Health Project (PrISMA): rationale and methodsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Alessandra Frigerio Abstract The Italian preadolescent mental health project (PrISMA , Progetto Italiano Salute Mentale Adolescenti) is the first Italian study designed to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in preadolescents (10,14 years old) living in urban areas, and to analyse the demographic and biological correlates of emotional and behavioural problems. This paper describes the rationale, methods and the analysis plan of the project. The design of the study used a two-stage sampling procedure, one screening stage of emotional and behavioural problems in a large sample of subjects attending public and private schools and a second stage of diagnostic assessment in a sample including all high scorers and a proportion of low scorers. In the screening stage, parents of preadolescents were asked to fill in the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), whereas in the second stage preadolescents and their parents were administered the Development and Well Being Assessment for the assessment of mental disorders together with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and two scales (C-GAS and HoNOSCA) designed to evaluate the functioning of the preadolescent in different areas. Genetic samples were collected during the screening stage, after parents gave their informed written consent. The findings of this study are expected to allow an adequate planning of interventions for the prevention and the treatment of mental disorders in preadolescence as well as efficient health services. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development and validation of the chinese rehearsal scale for preadolescent chinese children,,§JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Fiona C.M. Ling Abstract Roger (1997) defined rehearsal as "the tendency to rehearse or ruminate on emotionally upsetting events" (p. 71). The Rehearsal Scale for Children,Chinese (RSC-C) was developed from the original 14-item Rehearsal Scale of the Emotion Control Questionnaire (Roger & Nesshoever, 1987) after translation and modification for Hong Kong Chinese preadolescents (aged 6,12 years). Confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that with 1 item deleted from the original scale, the RSC-C possessed good internal validity and satisfactory test-retest reliability within a 1-year period. The new 13-item RSC-C also showed good external validity and internal reliability (,=.76). Convergent and discriminant validity was evidenced against the Emotional Problem and the Prosocial Behavior Subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), respectively. No gender differences in rehearsal scores were found. It was concluded that the 13-item RSC-C could be useful for measuring rehearsal in Chinese preadolescents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66: 1,10, 2010. [source] Validation of a 28-item version of the Systemic Clinical Outcome and Routine Evaluation in an Irish context: the SCORE-28JOURNAL OF FAMILY THERAPY, Issue 3 2010Paul Cahill This article describes the development, in an Irish context, of a three-factor, twenty-eight-item version of the Systemic Clinical Outcome and Routine Evaluation (SCORE) questionnaire for assessing progress in family therapy. The forty- item version of the SCORE was administered to over 700 Irish participants including non-clinical adolescents and young adults, families attending family therapy, and parents of young people with physical and intellectual disabilities and cystic fibrosis. For validation purposes, data were also collected using brief measures of family and personal adjustment. A twenty-eight-item version of the SCORE (the SCORE-28) containing three factor scales that assess family strengths, difficulties and communication was identified through exploratory principal components analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor structure of the SCORE-28 was stable. The SCORE-28 and its three factor scales were shown to have excellent internal consistency reliability, satisfactory test-retest reliability and construct validity. The SCORE-28 scales correlated highly with the General Functioning Scale of the Family Assessment Device, and moderately with the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning Scale, the Kansas Marital and Parenting Satisfaction Scales, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Mental Health Inventory , 5, and the total problems scale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Correlational analyses also showed that the SCORE-28 scales were not strongly associated with demographic characteristics or social desirability response set. The SCORE-28 may routinely be administered to literate family members aged over 12 years before and after family therapy to evaluate therapy outcome. [source] Sociocultural Disadvantage, Traumatic Life Events, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Preadolescent ChildrenAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2009Per E. Gustafsson PhD Previous research has demonstrated impact of psychosocial adversity on the mental health of children. This cross-sectional study examined specific influences of psychosocial adversity on internalizing versus externalizing symptoms, as explained by relative neighborhood disadvantage, sociocultural disadvantage, and exposure to interpersonal and non-interpersonal traumatic life events. Participants included 258 children aged 6 to 12 years from two Swedish elementary schools located in two socioeconomically distinct neighborhood settings. Information was obtained from their parents by means of questionnaires (a demographic form including information about parental occupation and country of origin, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events checklist). Neighborhood differences in mental health were explained by variability in psychosocial adversity. While controlling for gender, age, and the other symptom dimension, sociocultural disadvantage was associated with internalizing but not with externalizing symptoms. In contrast, traumatic life events and especially interpersonal traumas were related to externalizing but not to internalizing symptoms. These findings provide some support for specificity of psychosocial adversities in the impact on child mental health. [source] Children's experiences with chat support and telephone supportTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 6 2009Ruben G. Fukkink Background:, In line with the wider trend of offering support via the Internet, many counseling and referral services for children have introduced online chat, often in addition to a traditional telephone service. Methods:, A comparative study was conducted between the telephone service and the confidential one-on-one online chat service of the Dutch Kindertelefoon. The design included a concise pretest and a posttest (n = 902). The study also comprised a follow-up test (n = 213), which included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results:, Children experienced a higher sense of well-being and a reduced severity of their problems after consulting the Kindertelefoon. The results were slightly more favorable for the chat service than for the telephone service. The follow-up survey showed that many of the children who contact the Kindertelefoon suffer from relatively severe emotional problems. Conclusions:, Both the telephone and the web-based support improved the children's well-being and decreased their perceived burden of problem. The results of this study underline the need for closer cooperation between child helplines and mental health and child welfare services. [source] Psychiatric morbidity among children in North Aceh district (Indonesia) exposed to the 26 December 2004 tsunamiASIA-PACIFIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2010Tjhin Wiguna MD MIMH PhD Abstract Introduction: The aim of the study was to ascertain, using available data from the Bio-psychosocial Program for children, psychiatric morbidity and specific diagnoses among youths in North Aceh in the year after the tsunami disaster. Methods: All youths (n=2,135) who participated in the program were included in the study and screened in two phases. They were first administered the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); those with positive scores were then clinically interviewed by a psychiatrist, who then provided a diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition) (DSM-IV). Results: Subjects ranged in age from 4 to 18 years. Female-to-male ratio was 1:1.5. 98.1% of subjects were directly exposed to the trauma. There were significantly higher percentages (P<0.05) of abnormal total SDQ scores among trauma-exposed youths (52.3% among 4 to 10-year-olds and 46.5% among 11 to 18-year-olds, compared with youths in the non-trauma-exposed group (8% among 4 to 10-year-old children and 12% among 11 to 18-year-old adolescents. Clinical interviews revealed that 8.94% of the trauma-exposed youths met criteria for any mental disorder. Among youths with DSM-IV diagnoses, the most common diagnoses were post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 24.6% of total diagnoses among 4 to 10-year-olds and 35.6% among 11 to 18-year-olds), followed by depressive disorders. Discussion: Consistent with our hypotheses, youths directly exposed to the trauma demonstrated more psychiatric difficulties and higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses, most notably PTSD. Also, compared to younger children, adolescents and older children exposed to the trauma appeared to have higher rates of psychiatric disorders. In the face of disasters , natural or otherwise , further research is needed on optimal prevention of child and adolescent psychiatric morbidity. [source] Mental health status of Japanese-Brazilian children at Brazilian schools in JapanASIA-PACIFIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2010Shu Kondo MD PhD Abstract Introduction: Although the mental health of Japanese-Brazilian children in Japan has become a matter of concern, few studies have employed a psychological approach and no research of these children's mental health has previously been performed at Brazilian schools in Japan. Methods: The present study used a sample of 241 children aged 4 to 10 years at five Brazilian schools in Japan. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was applied for their guardians and teachers to detect the probable cases of mental disorders. Demographic data of the children were also collected from their guardians and a further analysis was made to determine the risk factors of the probable cases of conduct disorders. Results: The proportion of probable cases was 0.8% for emotional disorders, 9.1% for conduct disorders, 2.1% for hyperactivity disorders, and 10.0% for any psychiatric disorder. The detected risk factors of conduct disorders were male sex, 8 to 10 years of age, living without a father, and not talking often with their teacher. Discussion: The proportions of probable cases of mental disorders were not as high compared to general prevalence ranges or earlier studies. Considering the school and home situation of the children, living without a father seemed to be the foremost risk factor of conduct disorders. [source] Mental health impact for adolescents living with prolonged droughtAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2010John G. Dean Abstract Background:,A 2004 study showed adolescents living in rural Australia were aware of the impact of drought on self, family and community, but did not report levels of emotional distress higher than adolescents of similar age and gender in the Australian community. It was proposed that the rural lifestyle had helped adolescents build resilience for managing this environmental adversity. Objective:,To re sample adolescents from the same rural area and determine if this resilience remained after ongoing drought three years later. Design:,A mixed methods approach using focus groups and a self-report questionnaire. Setting:,Government Central Schools within the Riverina region of New South Wales. Participants:,Male and female adolescents (n = 111) aged 11,17 years completed the self-report questionnaires, while some adolescents (n = 61) within this group also participated in focus groups. Main outcome measure:,The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and a Drought and Community Survey for Children comprised the self-report survey. Results:,Adolescents reported significantly higher levels of emotional distress than those in the previous study (t (191) = 2.80, P < 0.01) and 12% of adolescents scored in the clinical caseness range. Thematic analysis showed consistency with the previous study as well as new themes of grief, loss and the impacts of global climate change. Conclusions:,Results indicate a reporting of lesser well-being than was reported by a comparable group of young people four years earlier. A preventative intervention with a focus on family and community is recommended to address the mental health of adolescents enduring a chronic environmental adversity such as drought. [source] Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and child behaviour , results from a cross-sectional study among preschool children in BavariaACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2010D Twardella Abstract Aim:, To evaluate the association of postnatal exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke on childhood behavioural problems after taking maternal smoking during pregnancy into account. Methods:, In a cross-sectional survey of preschool children in Bavaria, exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in the child's home was assessed via a parent questionnaire. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was applied to assess child's behaviour. The association with secondhand tobacco smoke exposure was assessed for ,probable' outcomes of the problem subscales and of prosocial behaviour. Results:, Among 5494 children (48% female), the SDQ indicated behavioural problems in up to 11%. After adjustment for socioeconomic factors, low birth weight and maternal smoking before and during pregnancy, a dose-response relationship with exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke was observed regarding hyperactivity/inattention (odds ratio compared to ,none' was 1.35 for ,low/medium' and 2.39 for ,high' exposure, 95% confidence intervals 1.02,1.78 and 1.62,3.53, respectively) as well as for conduct problems (OR 1.68 (1.37,2.06) and 1.93 (1.39,2.68)). Conclusion:, Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure at home appears to be associated with an increased risk of behavioural problems among preschool children. Prevention of behavioural problems may be a further reason to target secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in children. [source] Association between peer relationship problems and childhood overweight/obesityACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2009Anja Boneberger Abstract Aims:, To assess the association between peer relationship problems and childhood overweight and obesity. Methods:, Data on 4718 preschool children were obtained at the obligatory school entry health examination in Bavaria. Parentally reported peer relationship problems (,normal', ,borderline' or ,abnormal') were assessed from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Overweight and obesity were defined according to age- and gender-specific BMI cut-off points. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to control potential confounders. Results:, The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among children with ,borderline' or ,abnormal' peer relationship problems compared to ,normal' children. The association of ,abnormal' peer relationship problems was still significant in the final logistic regression model for girls [odds ratio (OR) for overweight 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4,3.0; OR for obesity 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3,5.0]. Among boys the adjusted odds ratio were lower and no longer significant. Conclusion:, The significantly increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children with peer relationship problems could not be explained by confounding. It seems evident that there is a relevant co-morbidity of peer relationship problems and obesity in pre-school children pointing to the need of interventions focusing on both physical as well as psychosocial health. [source] Family correlates of adolescents' emotional/behavioural problems: evidence from a Greek school-based sampleACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2009G Giannakopoulos Abstract Aim:, To investigate the associations of some family characteristics with adolescents' self-reported emotional/behavioural problems. Methods:, Questionnaires were administered to a Greek nation-wide random sample of adolescents (N = 1194) aged 11,18 years and their parents (N = 973) in 2003. The present analysis included the questionnaires completed by mothers and their offspring (639 families). Adolescents' emotional/behavioural problems, as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were assessed in relation to family socioeconomic status and residence type, parental marital status, educational attainment and subjective mental health, family cohesion and parent,child relations. Results:, The analysis showed that parental marital status other than being married, poor parent,child relations and low levels of maternal subjective mental health were independently correlated with significantly more adolescents' emotional/behavioural problems. Conclusion:, Family factors are potential determinants of adolescent emotional/behavioural problems and therefore are potential targets for prevention and/or intervention. [source] Prevalence of mental health problems among children placed in out-of-home care in DenmarkCHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, Issue 2 2009Tine Egelund ABSTRACT This paper concerns the prevalence of mental health problems among children in family foster and residential care within a Danish context. All children, born in Denmark in 1995, who are or formerly have been placed in out-of-home care (n= 1072), are compared with a group of vulnerable children of the same age, subjected to child protection interventions but living at home (n= 1457, referred to as the ,in home care children'), and to all contemporaries who are not child protection clients (n= 71 321, referred to as the ,non-welfare children'). Prevalence data are established on the basis of national administrative register data, including data on psychiatric diagnoses of the children, and on survey data scoring children in out-of-home care, in home care children, and non-welfare children by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results show that 20% of children in out-of-home care have at least one psychiatric diagnosis compared to 3% of the non-welfare children. Almost half of the children in care (48%) are, furthermore, scored within the abnormal range of SDQ, compared to 5% of the non-welfare children. [source] Emotional and behavioural problems in subgroups of children with chronic illness: results from a large-scale population studyCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2009M. Hysing Abstract Background Children with chronic illness are known to have an increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems. In the present population-based study children with asthma, neurological disorders and other chronic illnesses were compared with children without chronic illnesses to assess differences in psychological presentation across illness groups. Methods A total of 537 children with parent-reported chronic illness in the Bergen Child Study were categorized into three groups: asthma, neurological disorders and other chronic illnesses. Emotional and behavioural problems were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results All three illness groups had an increased rate of emotional and behavioural problems, as well as increased probability of a psychiatric disorder compared with children without a chronic illness. Most children with asthma and other chronic illnesses did not have emotional and behavioural problems, and effect sizes were small in both groups. In children with neurological disorders the effect sizes ranged from moderate to large, with emotional problems, inattention hyperactivity and peer problems being the most frequent problems. Conclusions The increased rate of emotional and behavioural problems in children with chronic illness, especially neurological disorders, emphasizes the importance of early detection of mental health problems in these children. [source] Fathering and adolescents' psychological adjustment: the role of fathers' involvement, residence and biology statusCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2008E. Flouri Abstract Background Studies on fathering and child mental health are now increasingly looking for specificity in children's psychological adjustment, indicating whether the impact of fathering is diagnostically specific or non-specific. Methods Data from 435 fathers of secondary school-aged children in Britain were used to explore the association between resident biological fathers', non-resident biological fathers' and stepfathers' involvement and children's total difficulties, prosocial behaviour, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer problems (all measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) in adolescence. Results After controlling for child-, father- and family-related factors, fathers' involvement was negatively associated with children's total difficulties and hyperactivity, was positively associated with children's prosocial behaviour, and was unrelated with children's emotional symptoms, conduct problems and peer problems. There was no non-resident biological father effect. Compared with resident biological fathers, stepfathers reported more total difficulties, conduct problems and hyperactivity in their children even after adjusting for involvement. Conclusions Whether this reflects stepfathers' low tolerance levels or biological fathers' complacency, as sociobiologists would argue, or whether this is due to pre-existing predispositions of children in families which separate and restructure, to the effects of these multiple family changes or to the high exposure of children in restructured families to parental risk factors, is, given the data available and the study design, unclear. However, this study showed that, compared with their peers in biological father families, adolescents in stepfather families are perceived to be at higher risk of behaviour problems, and that father involvement is related to specific aspects of child adjustment. [source] A pilot study of psychopathology in Developmental Coordination DisorderCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2006D. Green Abstract Background This paper explores the prevalence of emotional and behavioural disorders in children referred to a Community Paediatric Occupational Therapy service for assessment and treatment of problems with development of motor skills. Methods Parents of 47 children from a clinical sample of children who had been identified with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) returned the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) , a brief measure of the pro-social behaviour and psychopathology that can be completed by parents, teachers or youths. Results Significant emotional and behavioural problems were reported by 29 parents (62%) with a further six (13%) reporting problems in the borderline range. Seven children (15%) were without significant problems in one or more area although only four of these (9%) were outside the borderline range for all of the sub-domains of the SDQ. Discussion A significant proportion of children with DCD were reported by their parents to be at risk of psychopathology. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between motor difficulties and emotional and behavioural symptoms; however, it is recommended that interventions for children with DCD should support mental health and behavioural problems as well as motor development. [source] Child Health Assessment at School Entry (CHASE) project: evaluation in 10 London primary schoolsCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2005S. Edmunds Abstract Aims To assess the feasibility of implementing the Child Health Assessment at School Entry (CHASE) questionnaire, developed to capture the multiple dimensions of the health of children in their first year at school, and to evaluate data quality, reliability and validity. Methods Parents of 278 year-1 children, from 10 primary schools in two London boroughs, received a parent questionnaire and school nurses completed a separate questionnaire from health and education records for children whose parents consented. Additional data on free school meal eligibility and ethnicity were obtained from the two Local Education Authorities. The parent questionnaire included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and four dimensions of the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form-28 (CHQ-PF28). Results Response rate was 61%. The association between school free school meals eligibility and response rate in each school approached significance (r = ,0.62, P = 0.05). Data completeness of the parent questionnaire was high (mean 98%). Data completeness of the school nurse questionnaire was more variable (mean 82%). Cronbach's Alpha was greater than 0.6 for four of the five SDQ scales and greater than 0.7 for the two CHQ-PF28 multi-item scales. Relative to parents with qualifications, parents with no qualifications rated their children as having significantly more conduct problems, peer problems, and overall mental health problems (P < 0.01) as assessed by the SDQ, and significantly lower global health (P < 0.01) as assessed by the CHQ-PF28. Children with special educational needs and children with long-standing illness or disability were rated as having significantly lower global health (P < 0.05) than children without these. Sample tables of inter-school and inter-borough comparison of key findings demonstrate considerable differences in physical and mental health status. Discussion The questionnaire was acceptable to parents and school nurses, and feasible to implement within existing school resources. Initial tests of internal reliability and validity are satisfactory. These data have the potential to inform interventions and service provision at school and borough level, and public health trends over time. [source] Mental health of children and adolescents in 12 European countries,results from the European KIDSCREEN studyCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 3 2008Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer Within the European Screening for and Promotion of Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents,A European Public Health Perspective (KIDSCREEN) Study, emotional well-being and behaviour was examined in national representative samples of 22,000 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18. The proportion of children and adolescents showing signs of mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire,SDQ) varied across countries and socio-demographic and socio-economic subgroups. Risk factors examined included adverse family climate, low socio-economic status, poor social support and decreased mental well-being of the parents. When several risk factors occur simultaneously, the prevalence of mental health problems increases markedly. Children and adolescents with mental health problems display distinctly impaired health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10). Cross-cultural differences in the observed patterns of mental health problems were discussed. High-risk groups are cross-culturally characterized by poor social support and mental distress of parents. Strengthening social and familial resources should be a key objective, both in prevention and in interventions.,Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||