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Epidemiology of behavioural and emotional problems of primary schoolchildren in Greece

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Abstract

The behavioural and emotional problems and the competencies of non-referred children in Athens were studied by administering Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist to the parents of 466 children aged 6–11 years. In comparison to other countries, relatively high scores were obtained on both the internalizing (mean 15.1 for boys and 13.3 for girls) and externalizing scales (16.4 and 18.6), and relatively low scores on the competence scales. Cut-offs for the indication of high risk of behavioural problems suggested by USA data were exceeded by 36% of boys and 39% of girls on the total behaviour scale; appropriate cut-offs (90th percentiles) for use in Greece were re-computed for all scales. Parents' responses to individual behaviour items were analysed in relation to the child's age and sex and the family's socio-economic status. Results are discussed in relation to cultural factors.

Résumé

Les problèmes comportementaux et affectifs et les compétences d'enfants tout venant à Athènes, ont été étudiés par l'administration de l'échelle comportementale pour enfants d'Achenbach's (Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist) aux parents de 466 enfants âgés de 6 à 11 ans. En comparaison avec d'autres pays des scores relativement hauts furent obtenus à la fois aux échelles d'internalisation (moyenne 13.1 pour les garçons et 13.3 pour les filles) et d'externalisation (16.4 et 18.6) et des scores relativement bas aux échelles de compétence. Les seuils d'indication de risques élevés de problèmes comportementaux suggérés dans les études aux U.S.A. étaient dépassés par 36% des garçons et 39% des filles sur le total de l'échelle comportementale: Des seuils appropiés (90%) pour un usage en Grèce one été reprogrammés pour toutes les échelles. Les réponses des parents aux items individuels comportementaux furent analysés en relation avec l'âge de l'enfant, le sexe et le statut socio-économique de la famille. Les résultats sont discutés en relation avec les facteurs culturels.

Zusammenfassung

Verhaltensauffälligkeiten, psychische Probleme und die Fähigkeiten einer Populationsstichprobe von Kindern wurden in Athen analysiert, indem die Eltern von 466 Kindern im Altern von 6–11 Jahren die Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist ausfüllten. Im Vergleich zu anderen Ländern lagen die Werte für sowohl die internalisierenden (durchschnittswerte für Jungen und Mädchen 15,1 bzw. 13,3) als auch externalisierenden (16,4 bzw. 13,3) Skalen relativ hoch, die Werte für die Kompetenzskala hingegen relativ niedrig. Die Schwellenwerte der gesamten Verhaltensskala, die in den USA als Anzeichen für ein hohes Risiko für das Auftreten von Verhaltensauffälligkeiten gewertet werden, wurden von 36% der Jungen und 34% der Mädchen übertroffen; angemessene Schwellenwerte (90. Perzentile) wurden für den Gebrauch in Griechenland berechnet. Die Antworten der Eltern zu spezifischen Verhaltensitems wurden unter Berücksichtigung des Alters und Geschlechts und des sozioökonomischen Status der Familie anlysiert. Die Ergebnisse werden unter kulturellen Gesichtspunkten diskutiert.

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Motti-Stefanidi, F., Tsiantis, J. & Richardson, S.C. Epidemiology of behavioural and emotional problems of primary schoolchildren in Greece. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2, 111–118 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098866

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