Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T16:38:20.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mental Health of Preschool Children and their Mothers in a Mixed Urban/Rural Population

I. Prevalence and Ecological Factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Margaret J. J. Thompson
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Department, Southampton Health District
Jim Stevenson
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University of London
Edmund Sonuga-Barke
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southampton
Peter Nott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Southampton
Zam Bhatti
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Department, Southampton Health District
Andy Price
Affiliation:
Child Psychiatry Department, Southampton Health District
Matthew Hudswell
Affiliation:
Planning Office, Southampton Health District

Abstract

Background

The prevalence rate of behaviour problems and maternal mental disturbance was estimated using a sample of 1047 families with a 3-year-old child from a mixed urban/rural area.

Method

Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist, EAS Temperament Questionnaire, Weiss–Werry–Peters Activity Scale and the GHQ–30.

Results

The rate of behaviour problems (13.2%) was similar to that obtained in studies of urban children. The rate of maternal disturbance (27.6%) was lower than in other population samples. Few differences were found in the prevalence rates in the urban and rural areas.

Conclusions

Preschool children and their parents living in non-urban areas had the same rates of problems as those in conurbations. The service needs of such families are similar regardless of locality.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.