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Increase in child behavior problems among urban Brazilian 4-year olds: 1993 and 2004 Pelotas birth cohorts

Alicia Matijasevich1, Elizabeth Murray, Alan Stein

  • 1Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|April 17, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Preschool behavioral problems significantly increased in Brazil between 1993 and 2004, particularly aggressive behaviors. This rise was more pronounced in children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Epidemiology
  • Global Mental Health

Background:

  • Limited data exists on time trends in child psychological issues in low- and middle-income countries, especially for preschoolers.
  • This study addresses the gap by examining changes in preschool behavioral and emotional problems in Brazil.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in preschool behavioral and emotional problems in two Brazilian birth cohorts separated by 11 years.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the 1993 and 2004 Pelotas birth cohort studies in Brazil.
  • Assessment of behavioral/emotional problems using maternal reports from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in 4-year-olds.
  • High response rates (>90%) ensured robust population-based data.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in mean scores for total, internalizing, and externalizing problems on the CBCL was observed between 1993 and 2004.
  • The most substantial increase was in aggressive behavior syndrome scores (Cohen's d = .50), followed by externalizing (d = .40) and total problems (d = .36).
  • Increases in psychological problems were more pronounced in children from families with fewer assets and less educated mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Findings indicate a substantial rise in preschool behavioral problems in Brazil over the 11-year study period.
  • The study highlights the need for attention to child mental health trends in middle-income countries.
Abstract

Keywords:
Mental healthbehavior problemschild behavior check listlongitudinal studies

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