A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL-PROBLEMS INPORT-PIRIE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Objective: To describe the extent to which emotional and behavioural p roblems experienced by 5-year-old children living in or around Port Pi rie, South Australia, persisted when the children were aged 11-12 year s. Method: Childhood emotional and behavioural problems were identifie d at the age of 5 years using Child Behaviour Checklists completed by mothers. When the children were aged 11-12 years, problems were identi fied using checklists completed by mothers, children and teachers. Res ults: Attention problems, aggressive behaviour and anxious/depressed p roblems were the most persistent problems over this period of the chil dren's lives. In general, the strongest relationship over time occurre d when reports were obtained from mothers on each occasion. A weaker r elationship existed between earlier mother-reported problems and later teacher-reported problems, while the relationship between mother-repo rted problems and later self-reported problems occupied an intermediat e position. Conclusion: The course of problems among children in Port Pirie appeared similar to that previously reported for children in Hol land and North America. To better understand the aetiology of psychiat ric disorders and to plan for effective interventions, more informatio n is needed about the natural course of childhood emotional and behavi oural disorders in Australia.