Abstract
Although children with emotional or behavioural problems are at increased risk of future problems, knowledge of factors associated with persistence and change in child problems, once these problems exist, is limited. Using repeated measures analyses of variance, the present study investigated the association of parental problem recognition, professional and informal service use, and sociodemographic factors with change in child problems over a one-year period, in a sample of 360 children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems. Higher overall problem levels were found in children (aged 4–11 years at baseline) versus adolescents (aged 12–17 years), in boys, and in children with less educated parents, which indicates the need to address preventive actions at these groups. Although rates of service use were low, children who had been in contact with general practitioners or mental health services had higher overall problem levels, suggesting that children who need it most end up receiving professional care. Although child emotional and behavioural problems decreased significantly over time, this change was not associated with utilisation of professional or informal services. Our findings imply the need for methodologically sound research into the effectiveness of professional and informal services for child emotional and behavioural problems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach TM (1991) Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 Profiles. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington
Achenbach TM (1991) Manual for the Teacher’s Report Form and 1991 Profiles. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington
Achenbach TM (1991) Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profiles. University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, Burlington
Angold A, Costello EJ, Burns BJ, Erkanli A, Farmer EMZ (2000) Effectiveness of nonresidential specialty mental health services for children and adolescents in the “Real World”. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 39:154–160
Burns BJ, Costello EJ, Angold A, Tweed D, Stangl D, Farmer EM, Erkanli A (1995) Children’s mental health service use across service sectors. Health Aff 14:147–159
Heijmens Visser J, Van der Ende J, Koot HM, Verhulst FC (2003) Predicting change in psychopathology in youth referred to mental health services in childhood or adolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 44:509–519
Leaf PJ, Alegria M, Cohen P, Goodman SH, Horwitz SM, Hoven CW, Narrow WE, Vaden-Kiernan M, Regier DA (1996) Mental health service use in the community and schools: results from the four-community MECA study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:889–897
Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1992) Six-year developmental course of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31:924–931
Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J (1997) Factors associated with child mental health service use in the community. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:901–909
Verhulst FC, Van der Ende J, Koot HM (1996) Handleiding voor de CBCL/4–18 [Manual for the CBCL/4–18]. Afdeling Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie. Sophia Kinderziekenhuis/Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam/Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam
Westert GP, Schellevis FG, De Bakker DH, Groenewegen PP, Bensing JM, Van der Zee J (2005) Monitoring health inequalities through general practice: the second Dutch National Survey of General Practice. Eur J Public Health 15:59–65
Zwaanswijk M, Van der Ende J, Verhaak PFM, Bensing JM, Verhulst FC (2003) Factors associated with adolescent mental health service need and utilization. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 42:692–700
Zwaanswijk M, Van der Ende J, Verhaak PFM, Bensing JM, Verhulst FC (2005) Help-seeking for child psychopathology: pathways to informal and professional services in the Netherlands. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:1292–1300
Zwaanswijk M, Van der Ende J, Verhaak PFM, Bensing JM, Verhulst FC (submitted) Stages and actors involved in the process leading to adolescent mental health service use.
Acknowledgement
This study was financially supported by grant number 2100.0064 from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zwaanswijk, M., Verhaak, P.F., van der Ende, J. et al. Change in children’s emotional and behavioural problems over a one-year period. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 15, 127–131 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0513-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-005-0513-4