[Various socioeconomic factors as predictors of internalizing and externalizing disorders in children and...

Various socioeconomic factors as predictors of internalizing and externalizing disorders in children and adolescents Abstract. Objective: Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important risk factor for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Various SES parameters are included in research efforts. This paper investigates the predictive value of different individual SES measures and the combination thereof regarding internalizing and externalizing disorders in children and adolescents. Method: We used data from N = 381 8- to 14-year-olds who had been recruited in child and adolescent psychiatric facilities and in the general population. Based on a diagnostic parent interview (K-SADS-PL), we divided the sample into internalizing and externalizing groups and a healthy control group. The SES data of both parents were collected. Education, occupational status, and income were integrated as single factors as well as combined factor to form the SES index. Additionally, we assessed unemployment. Results: Using multivariate analyses, we controlled for age and sex. All single factors turned out to be significant risk factors for internalizing and externalizing disorders. Occupational status was the most important single factor. The explained variance for the SES index was as high as for occupational status. Unemployment was not predictive when examined simultaneously with the SES index. Conclusion: Future studies should integrate the SES as risk factor and use the SES index or occupational status as single factor. The integration of unemployment is not necessarily needed.