U.S. children with emotional and behavioral difficulties: data from the 2001, 2002, and 2003 National Health Interview Surveys.
OBJECTIVE
This report presents selected prevalence estimates for children ages 4-17 years with difficulties in emotions, concentration, behavior, or being able to get along with others using data from the 2001, 2002, and 2003 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS).


METHODS
Data for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population were collected using computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI). In 2001, a total of 10,367 interviews were completed about sample children ages 4-17 years by the member of the household most knowledgeable about the child's health. The number of completed interviews about sample children ages 4-17 years was 9,512 in 2002 and 9,399 in 2003. Questions on children's emotional and behavioral difficulties from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were first asked in the NHIS in 2001. SUDAAN software was used to tabulate statistics shown in this report.


RESULTS
In 2001, 2002, and 2003, approximately 5% of U.S. children ages 4-17 years had emotional or behavioral difficulties, and for approximately 80% of these children, there was an impact on their functioning. Children with difficulties in emotions, concentration, behavior, or being able to get along with others varied by sex, age, race, family structure, poverty status, and health insurance status. About 50% of these children were upset or distressed by their emotional or behavioral difficulties, and about 80% had difficulties that impacted their family life, friendships, learning, or leisure activities.
Simpson
Gloria A
GA
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
Bloom
Barbara
B
Cohen
Robin A
RA
Blumberg
Stephen
S
Bourdon
Karen H
KH
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology