This paper reviews findings on sex differences in health among childre
n and adolescents, concentrating particularly on the ages 7-15 years.
The overall picture is of a gradual emergence of excess morbidity in f
emales over this life stage. In respect of overall levels of chronic i
llness, higher male rates in childhood are replaced by higher female r
ates which emerge in early-mid adolescence. This pattern is also seen
in an examination of the rates of two common childhood conditions, ast
hma and migraine/headaches. An excess of psychological disturbance (la
rgely neurotic disorders) among females emerges in early-mid adolescen
ce, in comparison with younger ages where males predominate. Sex diffe
rences in the utilization of health services appear to mirror these pa
tterns of excess morbidity. There is also evidence that with increasin
g age there is a strengthening in the sex patterning of illness behavi
our. In contrast to the emphasis which has been given to explaining th
e emergence of a female excess in psychological disturbance and illnes
s-related behaviours and attitudes during early adolescence, much less
attention has been given to the understanding of the excess in physic
al complaints among females which also arises over this period. The pa
per suggests that this may be directly related to the relative lowerin
g of their psychological well-being during early adolescence. Longitud
inal studies are required in order to answer questions concerning age
by sex interactions in respect of morbidity in childhood and adolescen
ce.