Parent reports of child behavior problems in young Sami children: a cross-cultural comparison

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C Javo1, S Heyerdahl, J A Rønning

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Tromsoe, Norway. javo@arcticnet.no

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|November 30, 2000
PubMed

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.

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