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A longitudinal study of birth order, help seeking and psychopathology
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Insights
Birth order and family size do not predict early behavioral issues. However, in adolescence, girls, first-borns, and children from smaller families showed higher rates of DSM-III disorder, particularly internalizing problems.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Previous research suggests a link between birth order and psychopathology.
- This association is complicated by the confounding influence of family size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between birth order, family size, and psychopathology.
- To examine parental help-seeking behaviors and the development of psychiatric disorders in youth.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort of New Zealand children was studied.
- Data on family size, birth order, and psychiatric diagnoses (DSM-III) were collected at ages 7, 11, and 15.
Main Results:
- No association was found between gender, birth order, family size, and parental help-seeking or psychiatric disorders at age 11.
- In adolescence (age 15), girls, first-borns, and children from small families exhibited higher rates of DSM-III disorder, specifically internalizing disorders.
Conclusions:
- Birth order and family size are not significant predictors of early behavioral problems.
- Adolescent psychopathology, particularly internalizing disorders, shows associations with gender, birth order, and family size, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
Recent studies have suggested an association between birth order and psychopathology. However, the association remains unclear due to a lack of consideration of the confounding effects of family size. At age seven years the family size and birth order of children from a large cohort of New Zealand children were examined in relation to parental help seeking for behavioural and emotional problems, and the development of DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980) disorder in pre-adolescence and adolescence. Neither the child's gender, birth order nor family size were associated with parental help seeking or the prevalence of DSM-III disorder in pre-adolescence at age 11. In adolescence at age 15, however, significantly more girls, first-borns and children from small families had DSM-III disorder, but the interactions between these factors were not significant. In particular, these associations were found with internalizing disorders. The appropriateness of further studies of birth order in relation to psychopathology is discussed.