Use of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in child and school health services among children aged 4 and 6 years in Southern Norway: clinical considerations
Permanent link
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/28402Date
2023-01-19Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
Mølland, Eirin; Haraldstad, Kristin; Abildsnes, Eirik; Håland, Åshild Tellefsen; Kopp, Unni Mette Stamnes; Fegran, Liv; Westergren, Per Christer ThomasAbstract
Methods This study included parent-reported observations for 665 children (63% consent rate). Means and standard deviations were calculated for the domains of SDQ, and gender differences were assessed. Based on the Swedish, Danish, and UK cutoffs and the 80th and 90th percentile cutoff values within the study, we calculated the total number of children with borderline and abnormal scores.
Results Boys had higher mean total difficulties (7.3 vs 5.6) and impact scores (0.3 vs 0.1) and lower prosocial scores (8.3 vs 8.8) than girls. The differences in means were largest in the case of externalizing symptoms (5.0 vs 3.6) and hyperactivity subscore (3.2 vs 2.3). Using the UK cutoff values, 28 and 25 children had borderline and abnormal total difficulties scores, respectively. The corresponding numbers using the within study or Scandinavian cutoff values were 84–99 and 54–79, respectively. Overall, our study sample was well representative of the target population.
Conclusions Our findings consistently indicated that girls had better SDQ scores than boys among children aged 4 and 6 years. Fewer children would be identifed as having mental health difficulties using the UK cutoff values than using the Scandinavian age- and gender-relevant cutoff values.