Epidemiology of behavioural and emotional problems of primary schoolchildren in Greece

The behavioural and emotional problems and the competencies of non-referred children in Athens were studied by administering Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist to the parents of 466 children aged 6-11 years. In comparison to other countries, relatively high scores were obtained on both the internalizing (mean 15.1 for boys and 13.3 for girls) and externalizing scales (16.4 and 18.6), and relatively low scores on the competence scales. Cut-offs for the indication of high risk of behavioural problems suggested by USA data were exceeded by 36% of boys and 39% of girls on the total behaviour scale; appropriate cut-offs (90th percentiles) for use in Greece were re-computed for all scales. Parents' responses to individual behaviour items were analysed in relation to the child's age and sex and the family's socio-economic status. Results are discussed in relation to cultural factors.