Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study
A small proportion of children experience social-emotional difficulties from early childhood onwards. Longitudinal studies with nationally representative samples are needed to identify the prevalence and the characteristics of children and families persistently experiencing these difficulties. Secon...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/656 |
| _version_ | 1827685578456432640 |
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| author | Ann Swift Roy McConkey Philip Curry Edurne Garcia Iriarte |
| author_facet | Ann Swift Roy McConkey Philip Curry Edurne Garcia Iriarte |
| author_sort | Ann Swift |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A small proportion of children experience social-emotional difficulties from early childhood onwards. Longitudinal studies with nationally representative samples are needed to identify the prevalence and the characteristics of children and families persistently experiencing these difficulties. Secondary analysis of data collected on over 7500 Irish children and with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as the primary indicator, found that 6% of children when they were five year olds and 8% when they were nine-years, had above threshold scores that warranted further investigation. A smaller proportion—2.9% had elevated scores at both ages. Logistic regression analyses found that children with one or more developmental disabilities were up to six times more likely to have sustained difficulties. There were also significant associations with the lower education attainment of primary caregivers and the socio-economic deprivation of families. Primary caregivers and teachers reported higher conflict in their relationships with these children. Although the number of Irish children presenting with continuing social-emotional difficulties is small, they can present an ongoing and future societal cost in terms of the impact on family relations and demands placed on educational, health and social services. This study identified the children and families who are at greatest risk and for whom targeted early intervention services could be provided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:54:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75b72321934845d7a5034c2b2d462a9c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:54:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-75b72321934845d7a5034c2b2d462a9c2023-11-22T07:14:02ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-07-018865610.3390/children8080656Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal StudyAnn Swift0Roy McConkey1Philip Curry2Edurne Garcia Iriarte3School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandInstitute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UKSchool of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSchool of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandA small proportion of children experience social-emotional difficulties from early childhood onwards. Longitudinal studies with nationally representative samples are needed to identify the prevalence and the characteristics of children and families persistently experiencing these difficulties. Secondary analysis of data collected on over 7500 Irish children and with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as the primary indicator, found that 6% of children when they were five year olds and 8% when they were nine-years, had above threshold scores that warranted further investigation. A smaller proportion—2.9% had elevated scores at both ages. Logistic regression analyses found that children with one or more developmental disabilities were up to six times more likely to have sustained difficulties. There were also significant associations with the lower education attainment of primary caregivers and the socio-economic deprivation of families. Primary caregivers and teachers reported higher conflict in their relationships with these children. Although the number of Irish children presenting with continuing social-emotional difficulties is small, they can present an ongoing and future societal cost in terms of the impact on family relations and demands placed on educational, health and social services. This study identified the children and families who are at greatest risk and for whom targeted early intervention services could be provided.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/656social-emotional difficultieschildrenIrelanddevelopmental impairmentsfamily caregiversstrength and difficulties questionnaire |
| spellingShingle | Ann Swift Roy McConkey Philip Curry Edurne Garcia Iriarte Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study Children social-emotional difficulties children Ireland developmental impairments family caregivers strength and difficulties questionnaire |
| title | Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study |
| title_full | Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study |
| title_fullStr | Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study |
| title_short | Social-Emotional Difficulties in Irish Children Aged Five and Nine Years: A National, Longitudinal Study |
| title_sort | social emotional difficulties in irish children aged five and nine years a national longitudinal study |
| topic | social-emotional difficulties children Ireland developmental impairments family caregivers strength and difficulties questionnaire |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/656 |
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