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[High-risk groups in pre-school children. Cluster analysis (author's transl)]
Insights
This study identified three child development groups in preschool children. High-risk children showed early symptom onset, highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Child development
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral science
Context:
- Longitudinal study of 415 preschool children in Paris (1974-1977).
- Utilized epidemiological surveys assessing familial, social, and developmental factors at multiple child ages.
- Focused on behavioral and health variables at 36 months of age.
Purpose:
- To identify distinct developmental trajectories in preschool children using cluster analysis.
- To characterize risk factors associated with developmental difficulties.
- To investigate the early onset of symptoms in high-risk children.
Summary:
- Cluster analysis revealed three groups: a large 'typical' group (69%), a 'low-risk' group (21%), and a 'high-risk' group (10%) with frequent symptoms.
- The high-risk group exhibited early symptom onset.
- Family factors, including socioeconomic status and parental mental health, supported the reliability of the identified groups.
Impact:
- Identified distinct developmental risk groups in early childhood.
- Provides insights into the early manifestation of developmental challenges.
- Informs targeted interventions for at-risk preschool populations.
Abstract:
A 3 years supervision of 415 pre-school children was undertaken in Paris from 1974 to 1977. Four epidemiological sets of questions provided information on the familial and social situation as well as on the physical and psychological development of the child at 3, 9, 18 and 36 months of age. A cluster analysis was applied to the behavior and health variables in the 3 year-old child and 3 different groups were identified. Most children (69%) belong to the first group, characterized by the absence of difficulties or the presence of a few minor symptoms, 10% of the children belong to the third group, a "high risk group" because of their high frequency of symptoms. Half-way between these 2 groups, a "low-risk group" (21%) was identified. The reliability of this analysis was further supported by the study of the families (especially their social and economic status and the parents' mental health). This study also revealed the early onset of the symptoms in high risk children.