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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 8/2016

01-08-2016 | Original Paper

Comparing the prevalence of mental health problems in children 6–11 across Europe

Authors: Viviane Kovess-Masfety, Mathilde M. Husky, Katherine Keyes, Ava Hamilton, Ondine Pez, Adina Bitfoi, Mauro Giovanni Carta, Dietmar Goelitz, Rowella Kuijpers, Roy Otten, Ceren Koç, Sigita Lesinskiene, Zlatka Mihova

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 8/2016

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Abstract

Background

Worldwide, approximately one in eight children or adolescents suffer from a mental disorder. The present study was designed to determine the cross-national prevalence of mental health problems in children aged 6–11 across seven European countries including Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey.

Methods

Data were collected on 7682 children for whom either parent- or teacher SDQ were completed.

Results

The present study provides country-specific normative banding for both parent- and teacher SDQ scores. Overall, 12.8 % of children have any probable disorder, with rates ranging from 15.5 % in Lithuania to 7.8 % in Italy, 3.8 % of children have a probable emotional disorder, 8.4 % probable conduct disorder, and 2.0 % probable hyperactivity/inattention. However, when adjusting for key sociodemographic variables and parental psychological distress, country of residence did not predict the odds of having any disorder. For specific disorders, however, country of residence does have an effect on the odds of presenting with mental health problems.

Conclusions

As normative data are key in the comparison of mental health status on an international level, the present data considerably advance the possibilities of future research. Furthermore, the findings underline the importance of controlling for a number of sociodemographic and parental variables when conducting international comparisons of child mental health. In addition, the findings suggest that efforts are needed locally to assist in the detection and prevention of parental psychological distress.
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Metadata
Title
Comparing the prevalence of mental health problems in children 6–11 across Europe
Authors
Viviane Kovess-Masfety
Mathilde M. Husky
Katherine Keyes
Ava Hamilton
Ondine Pez
Adina Bitfoi
Mauro Giovanni Carta
Dietmar Goelitz
Rowella Kuijpers
Roy Otten
Ceren Koç
Sigita Lesinskiene
Zlatka Mihova
Publication date
01-08-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 8/2016
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1253-0

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