Major life events and changes in the behavioural functioning of children.
The relationship between major life events and changes, across a 2-yr period, in the level of parent-reported behavioural/emotional problems in 1397 children from a general population sample was investigated using a highly modified version of the Coddington Life Events Record and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. The life event questionnaire used in the present study proved to have a satisfactory reliability. The number of life events increased significantly with increasing age of the child, and a higher incidence of such events was found for families with lower socio-economic status. A significant relationship was found between the total score of negative life events across the 2-yr period and changes in the level of behavioural/emotional problems of the children.
Berden
G F
GF
Department of Child Psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Althaus
M
M
Verhulst
F C
FC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors