Prevalence and Predictors of Behavioral Problems in Healthy Swiss Preschool Children Over a One Year Period

Kerstin Stülb; Nadine Messerli-Bürgy; Tanja H Kakebeeke; Amar Arhab; Annina E Zysset; Claudia S Leeger-Aschmann; Einat A Schmutz; Andrea H Meyer; Susi Kriemler; Oskar G Jenni; Jardena J Puder; Simone Munsch

doi:10.1007/s10578-018-0849-x

Prevalence and Predictors of Behavioral Problems in Healthy Swiss Preschool Children Over a One Year Period

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2019 Jun;50(3):439-448. doi: 10.1007/s10578-018-0849-x.

Authors

Kerstin Stülb¹, Nadine Messerli-Bürgy^{1

2

3}, Tanja H Kakebeeke^{4

5}, Amar Arhab³, Annina E Zysset⁴, Claudia S Leeger-Aschmann⁶, Einat A Schmutz⁶, Andrea H Meyer^{1

7}, Susi Kriemler⁶, Oskar G Jenni^{4

5}, Jardena J Puder³, Simone Munsch⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
² Department of Psychology-Clinical Child Psychology and Biological Psychology, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
³ Obstetric Service, Lausanne University Hospital, Ave de Sallaz 82, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁵ Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁷ Department for Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 62A, 4055, Basel, Switzerland.
⁸ Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland. simone.munsch@unifr.ch.

PMID: 30368619
DOI: 10.1007/s10578-018-0849-x

Abstract

Behavioral problems impair children's health but prevalence rates are scarce and persistence rates vary due to divergence in age ranges, assessment methods and varying environmental factors. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence rates of behavioral problems, their persistence over a 1-year period, and the impact of child- and parent-related factors on behavioral problems. 555 2-6-year-old healthy preschool children were assessed at baseline and 382 of the initial sample at 1-year follow-up. Assessment included questionnaires concerning behavioral problems and their potential predictors (e.g. socio-economic status or parenting style). Altogether, nearly 7% of these children showed clinically relevant behavioral problems, and 3% showed persistent symptoms. Low SES, inconsistent parenting and corporal punishment were positively associated with behavioral problems. The prevalence rates of behavioral problems in Swiss preschoolers are similar to other European countries, but persistence is still rather low within preschool age. These findings need further confirmation in longitudinal studies.

Keywords: Behavioral problems; Child; Predictors; Prevalence; SPLASHY.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child Behavior / psychology*
Child, Preschool
Correlation of Data
Female
Humans
Male
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting / psychology*
Prevalence
Problem Behavior / psychology*
Prognosis
Punishment / psychology*
Socioeconomic Factors
Switzerland