Mental health of children and adolescents in 12 European countries-results from the European KIDSCREEN study.
Within the European Screening for and Promotion of Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents-A European Public Health Perspective (KIDSCREEN) Study, emotional well-being and behaviour was examined in national representative samples of 22 000 children and adolescents aged 8 to 18.The proportion of children and adolescents showing signs of mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-SDQ) varied across countries and socio-demographic and socio-economic subgroups. Risk factors examined included adverse family climate, low socio-economic status, poor social support and decreased mental well-being of the parents. When several risk factors occur simultaneously, the prevalence of mental health problems increases markedly. Children and adolescents with mental health problems display distinctly impaired health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10).Cross-cultural differences in the observed patterns of mental health problems were discussed. High-risk groups are cross-culturally characterized by poor social support and mental distress of parents. Strengthening social and familial resources should be a key objective, both in prevention and in interventions.
Ravens-Sieberer
Ulrike
U
University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Ravens-sieberer@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Erhart
Michael
M
Gosch
Angela
A
Wille
Nora
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires