Prevalence of social-emotional and behavioral problems in a community sample of 1- and 2-year-old children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of infant-toddler social-emotional and behavioral problems and associations with social-emotional competence, interference in family life, and parental worry.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 1- and 2-year-old children (mean [MN] age = 24.8 months) from the baseline survey of a representative sample of healthy births (N= 1,280). Parent questionnaires included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/2-3), Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI/SF), and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment social-emotional competence scales, as well as questions about parental worry and family activities.


RESULTS
Approximately 80% of eligible subjects participated. The weighted prevalence of parent-reported subclinical/clinical CBCL/2-3 scores was 11.8% for 2-year-olds. Approximately 6% of parents of 1- and 2-year-olds reported clinical-level scores on the PSI Difficult Child (PSI/DC) scale, which was included as a proxy for behavior problems among 1-year-olds, for whom measures were limited. Sex differences were not observed. CBCL/2-3 and PSI/DC scores were uniquely associated with economic disadvantage (relative risk = 1.89 and 2.24, respectively). Approximately 32% of 2-year-olds with subclinical/clinical CBCL2-3 scores had delayed social-emotional competence. Problems were also associated with parental worry about child behavior and interference in family activities.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant need for early identification of emotional/behavioral problems in very young children is highlighted by associations with delayed competence and disruptions in family life that may further contribute to risk for persistent problems.
Briggs-Gowan
M J
MJ
Psychology Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Margaret.Briggs-Gowan@yale.edu
Carter
A S
AS
Skuban
E M
EM
Horwitz
S M
SM
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors