Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate mental health with respect to social-emotional problems among three-year-olds in relation to their gender, custody arrangements and place of residence.
Methods: A cross-sectional population-based design was used, encompassing 7179 three-year-olds in northern Sweden during the period 2014-2017 from the regional Salut Register. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed based on parents' responses on the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, supplemented with items on gender, custody arrangement and place of residence.
Results: Parental-reported social-emotional problems were found in almost 10% of the children. Boys were reported to have more problems (12.3%) than girls (5.6%; p < 0.001). Parents were most concerned about children's eating habits and interactions at mealtimes. Parents not living together reported more problems among their children than those living together (p < 0.001). When stratifying by custody arrangement, girls in rural areas living alternately with each parent had more problems compared to those in urban areas (p < 0.008).
Conclusion: Gender and custody arrangements appear to be important factors for social-emotional problems among three-year-olds. Thus, such conditions should receive attention during preschool age, preferably by a systematic preventive strategy within Child Health Care.
Keywords: Ages and stages questionnaires; Cross-sectional study; Emotional and behavioural problems; Mental health; Preschool child.
©2018 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.