Emotional and behavioural symptoms in 8-9-year-old children in relation tofamily structure

The association between family structure and behavioural and emotional symp toms in prepubertal children was studied in an epidemiological survey condu cted in Finland. Five thousand eight hundred thirteen children aged 8 and 9 years were screened using the Rutter Parent Questionnaire (RA2) for parent s and the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire (RB2) for teachers. Information conc erning family type, birth order and sibship size were obtained from the par ents. The majority of the children (84%) in the sample lived with both thei r biological parents, 10% with a single parent, and around 5% with a biolog ical parent and a stepparent. Around 1% of the children lived outside their original home. The prevalence of behavioural and emotional symptoms was lo west in children living with both their biological parents and highest amon g children living outside their original home according to both parents' an d teachers' reports. Children living with a parent and a stepparent had pro blems more often at home, but less often at school than children living wit h a single parent. Living with a single father was associated with having m ore externalising, school-related problems, while living with a stepfather was associated with having more internalising, home related problems. Havin g younger siblings seemed to be associated with fewer problems at school, a nd being the youngest child with having less problems both at home and at s chool.