title: The Influence of Social Disadvantage on Children's Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties at Age 4-7 Years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between indicators of social disadvantage and emotional and behavioral difficulties in children aged 4-7 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was based on data collected in a questionnaire completed by parents of children enrolled in their first year of school in Victoria, Australia, in 2010. Just over 57000 children participated (86% of children enrolled), of whom complete data were available for 38955 (68% of the dataset); these children formed the analysis sample. The outcome measure was emotional and behavioral difficulties, assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Total Difficulties score. Logistic regression analyses were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having a concession card (a government-issued card enabling access to subsidized goods and services, particularly in relation to medical care, primarily for economically vulnerable households) was the strongest predictor of emotional and behavioral difficulties (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 2.39-3.07), followed by living with 1 parent and the parent's partner or not living with either parent (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.58-2.37) and having a mother who did not complete high school (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.11-1.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may assist schools and early childhood practitioners in identifying young children who are at increased risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties, to provide these children, together with their parents and families, with support from appropriate preventive interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karahalios
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Early Childhood and School Education Group, Victorian Department of Education and Training, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services Victoria, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria