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Impact of Psychosocial Environment on Young Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties

Author

Listed:
  • Regina Grazuleviciene

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Sandra Andrusaityte

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Inga Petraviciene

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Birute Balseviciene

    (Department of Theoretical Psychology, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania)

Abstract

Objective: The impact of maternal psychosocial stress on young children’s mental difficulties is unclear. This study investigated the joint effects of the socioeconomic status and parent-child relationships on emotional and behavioral difficulties in preschool children. Methods: The case-control study included 1416 mothers and their 4–6 year-old children pairs, living in Kaunas city, Lithuania. The parent-child relationships were measured using the Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction subscale. Children’s mental health difficulties were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We used logistic regression models to indicate the strength of the associations. Results: Lower socioeconomic status women more often than higher ones reported pathological mother-child relations. Low education level was associated with statistically significant increase adjusted odds ratios for emotional symptoms and total behavioral difficulties. With reference to the group of better-educated mothers and normal mother-child relations, low education and pathological mother-child relations statistically significantly increased the risk of total difficulties in 4–6 year-old children; the adjusted odds ratios were 2.45; 95% CI 1.51–3.99. Conclusions: Pathological mother-child relations strengthened the effect of lower education on the increased risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties in preschool-age children. Measures oriented towards health behavior and psychosocial difficulties management may decrease children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Suggested Citation

  • Regina Grazuleviciene & Sandra Andrusaityte & Inga Petraviciene & Birute Balseviciene, 2017. "Impact of Psychosocial Environment on Young Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1278-:d:116167
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luis Rajmil & Michael Herdman & Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer & Michael Erhart & Jordi Alonso, 2014. "Socioeconomic inequalities in mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents from 11 European countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(1), pages 95-105, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tanja Poulain & Juliane Ludwig & Andreas Hiemisch & Anja Hilbert & Wieland Kiess, 2019. "Media Use of Mothers, Media Use of Children, and Parent–Child Interaction Are Related to Behavioral Difficulties and Strengths of Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Benito León-del-Barco & Fernando Fajardo-Bullón & Santiago Mendo-Lázaro & Irina Rasskin-Gutman & Damián Iglesias-Gallego, 2018. "Impact of the Familiar Environment in 11–14-Year-Old Minors’ Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, June.

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