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The prevalence of emotional disorder in children
P S Links1, M H Boyle, D R Offord
1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Emotional disorders affect over 10% of children, with higher rates in younger girls and adolescent females. Many affected children do not receive needed mental health services.
Area of Science:
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Epidemiology of emotional disorders
- Public health services for youth
Background:
- Emotional disorders are a significant concern in child and adolescent populations.
- Understanding prevalence and demographic variations is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Service utilization patterns highlight gaps in mental healthcare access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of emotional disorders in children and adolescents in Ontario.
- To examine how prevalence rates vary across different demographic factors.
- To assess the utilization of mental health and social services among affected children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Ontario Child Health Study.
- Employed a stratified random sample of 3,294 children aged 4-16 years, drawn from the 1981 Census.
- Analyzed prevalence rates and service utilization based on age, sex, and diagnostic criteria.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of emotional disorders was 10.1% for boys and 10.7% for girls aged 4-11.
- In adolescents (12-16 years), prevalence was 13.7% for females and 5.0% for males.
- Comorbidity was common, and only 20% of children with emotional disorders received services in the prior six months.
Conclusions:
- Emotional disorder prevalence shows distinct age and sex patterns in children and adolescents.
- A substantial gap exists between the need for and utilization of mental health services.
- Findings underscore the need for improved access and targeted support for youth mental health.
Abstract:
This report presents data from the Ontario Child Health Study on the prevalence of individual emotional symptoms, the variation of prevalence rates of emotional disorders as a function of demographic factors, and the rates of service utilization for children with these disorders. To survey Ontario children from 4 to 16 years of age, a stratified random sample of 3,294 children was drawn from all household dwellings listed in the 1981 Census. The prevalence rates for emotional disorders in male and female children aged 4 to 11 years were 10.1% and 10.7%, respectively. For adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, the prevalence rate rose to 13.7% for females and fell to 5.0% for males. Children with emotional disorders were frequently found to meet criteria for more than one disorder. Only one in five children with emotional disorders had received mental health or social services in the 6 months prior to the survey.