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YOUNG CHILD SOCIOEMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND CUMULATIVE PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK
Author(s) -
Weitzman Carol,
Edmonds Diana,
Davagnino Judith,
BriggsGowan Margaret J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.21421
Subject(s) - socioemotional selectivity theory , psychosocial , cumulative risk , psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychotherapist
Limited information is available about the rates and risk correlates of socioemotional/behavioral problems in young children in pediatric primary care settings serving low‐income families. Our objective was to determine rates of clinically significant socioemotional/behavior problems in 12‐ to 48‐month‐olds from low‐income families and identify associations between problems and individual and cumulative demographic and psychosocial risks. In this study, 378 Spanish‐ and English‐speaking mothers attending a pediatric primary care practice serving low‐income families were surveyed before well‐child visits to assess socioemotional/behavioral problems (Brief Infant–Toddler Social‐Emotional Assessment; M.J. Briggs‐Gowan & A.S. Carter, [Briggs‐Gowan, M.J., 2006]) and psychosocial and demographic risks (e.g., unemployment, low social support) (Parent Risk Questionnaire; D.I. Lowell, A.S. Carter, L. Godoy, B. Paulicin, & M.J. Briggs‐Gowan, [Lowell, D.I., 2011]). We found that 19.8% of children had clinically significant problems, and 53.2% experienced one or more psychosocial risks. Clinically significant socioemotional/behavioral problems were modestly to strongly associated with individual psychosocial risks, with the strongest associations with parental medical problems, parent depression/anxiety, and extreme parental distress, Adjusted Relative Risk (ARR) = 4.8–6.6, p < .0001. Cumulative demographic and psychosocial risk were uniquely associated with clinically significant problems, particularly among children experiencing three to four psychosocial risks, ARR = 3.0–11.6, p < .05. Psychosocial risks affect the majority of low‐income families with young children, with a steep increase in likelihood of clinically significant socioemotional/behavioral problems as risks accumulate, underscoring the need to address both socioemotional/behavioral issues and psychosocial risk in young children.