Parents' perception of mental development and behavioural problems in 8 to9-year-old children

A slow maturational rate may be an underlying antecedent of a psychiatric d isorder. If this is correct, differences in behavioural problems could be r elated to the maturity level in children of the same chronological age. The aim of the study was to compare the parents' perceptions and assessments o f their children's maturational status and behavioural problems. A populati on based on a nationwide sample from the Swedish twin-register of 8 to 9-y- old children (n = 1079) was used. The parents completed a questionnaire inc luding their views on their child's maturity level, the Swedish version of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) checklist based on the DSM-III-R criteria. Multivariate an alyses showed a statistically significant relationship between immaturity r eported by the parents and several behavioural problems reported on the CBC L: somatic complaints, anxious and depressed, social problems, thought prob lems, attention problems, behaviour problems and aggressive behaviour. Ther e was also a statistically significant relationship between the maturity fa ctor and the CBCL grouping of syndromes (internalizing, externalizing, tota l behaviour problems score) as well as between the maturity factor and ADHD . Conclusion: We conclude that at least from the parents' point of view the b ehaviour problems in their children may be related to maturity.