Behavior Problems in 5− to 11-Year-Old Children from Low-Income Families

doi:10.1097/00004583-199409000-00013

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume 33, Issue 7, September 1994, Pages 1017-1025

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199409000-00013 Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

Objective

The aims of the present study were to survey the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores (behavioral section) in a nonclinical population of US urban children from low-income families and to compare the distribution and pattern of scores with the normative data in the CBCL manual (1991).

Method

The sample consisted of 890 low-income children and a mother or female guardian selected randomly from among Seattle public school students aged 5 to 11 years.

Results

In this sample the total CBCL score as well as all subscale scores were significantly higher than the norms. The proportion of children who scored in the clinical/borderline range was also higher than the norm.

Conclusions

These findings support previous work showing that poverty is a risk factor for mental distress in children. They also raise questions about the validity of the CBCL norms for screening or research purpose for low-income families.

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: Supported, in part, by grants 5R01 DE06950, 5T32 DE07132, 5P30DE 09743, and 5T32 DE 07227 from the NIDR/NIH. We appreciate the assistance of Scott Barnhardt and Amy Hagopian of the Seattle School Board and Mike Hoge, General Counsel fir the Seattle Public Schools. We gratefully recognize the contributions of Nitsa Allen-Barash, Louis Fiset, Dan Golletz, Ellen Jeffcott, Barbara King Norma Wells, Agnes Spadafora, Khoon-Mei Tay, and Phil Weinstein, who assisted in the development of this work.

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ARTICLESBehavior Problems in 5− to 11-Year-Old Children from Low-Income Families

ABSTRACT

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Psychiatry

Child Abuse Negl

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 Profile

Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile

Psychosocial characteristics of homeless children and children with homes

Pediatrics

Impaired emotional health in children with mild reading disability

J Dev Behav Pediatr

Concurrent validity of the internalizing and externalizing profile patterns of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist

J Consult Clin Psychol

A family process model of economic hardship and adjustment of early adolescent boys

Child Dev

Family economic stress and adjustment of early adolescent girls

Developmental Psychology

ARTICLES
Behavior Problems in 5− to 11-Year-Old Children from Low-Income Families