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Parent reports of child behavior problems in young Sami children: a cross-cultural comparison
C Javo1, S Heyerdahl, J A Rønning
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Tromsoe, Norway. javo@arcticnet.no
Insights
Child behavior problems in 4-year-olds did not differ significantly across ethnic groups (Sami, Norwegian, mixed). However, ethnicity impacts behavior ratings differently for boys versus girls, highlighting the need for context in assessments.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Studies
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Assessing child behavior problems requires understanding ethnic and gender influences.
- Previous research has not fully explored these interactions in minority populations.
- The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a widely used tool for parent-reported behavior problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare parent-reported child behavior problems across monoethnic Sami, monoethnic Norwegian, and multiethnic Sami/Norwegian 4-year-olds.
- To investigate the influence of ethnicity and gender on child behavior ratings.
- To examine agreement between mothers' and fathers' reports.
Main Methods:
- A general population study involving 4-year-old children in northern Norway.
- Utilized the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for parent reports.
- Compared scores across three ethnic groups: Sami, Norwegian, and Sami/Norwegian.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in overall behavior problem scores across ethnic groups.
- Significant ethnicity x gender interactions observed; ethnic effects on behavior ratings differed between boys and girls.
- Mothers' and fathers' reports showed low correlations and some gender-specific differences.
Conclusions:
- Child behavior assessment in minority populations must consider gender and ethnic context.
- Cultural norms may influence parents' ratings of child behavior problems.
- Further research is needed to refine cross-cultural assessment methodologies.
Abstract:
In a general population study of 4-year-olds, using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), parent reports of child behavior problems were compared in samples of 67 monoethnic Sami, 52 multiethnic Sami/Norwegian, and 63 monoethnic Norwegian children from the Sami core area in northern Norway. Mean CBCL total problem scores were low for all three groups [Sami: 21.1 (SD 15.5), Sami/Norwegian: 19.4 (SD 12.2) and Norwegian: 18.8 (SD 13.6)]. No significant differences across ethnic groups were found for the Total Problems scale and the Internalizing and Externalizing scales, nor for the syndrome scales, except for the Withdrawn scale, the Sami/Norwegian sample showing the highest scores. However, significant ethnicity x gender interactions emerged, indicating that the effect of ethnicity was different for boys versus girls. Sami mothers reported the highest and the Norwegian mothers the lowest scores for girls, whereas the opposite pattern was found for boys. Correlations between mothers' and fathers' reports were generally low. Differences in mean scale scores between pairs of parents (n = 122) were found for boys but not for girls, mothers scoring higher than fathers. The authors underline the importance of taking gender differences, age and ethnic context into account when assessing problem behavior in minority children. Methodological problems in cross-cultural assessments, including the influence of cultural norms of child behavior on parents' problem ratings, are discussed.