Have psychiatric problems of children in children's homes increased?

• Published in: Nordic journal of psychiatry Vol. 59; no. 6; pp. 481 - 485
• Main Authors: Hukkanen, Raija, Sourander, Andre, Santalahti, Päivi, Bergroth, Lasse
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 2005; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Behavioral problems; Child; Child Behavior Checklist; Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; Child, Preschool; Children's homes; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Foster Home Care - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time-trend study; Finland
• ISSN: 0803-9488; 1502-4725
• DOI: 10.1080/08039480500360880

This time-trend study was conducted during and after the severe economic recession and the period of high unemployment in Finland in the 1990s. The changes in the behavioral and emotional problems of children and adolescents placed in children's homes were studied in the same area using the Child Behavior Checklist questionnaire at three different time points (1993, 1996 and 1999), and the Children's Global Assessment Scale in 1996 and 1999. Internalizing symptoms of the children increased significantly. The level of psychosocial problems among boys was already high at the first rating in 1993, and it remained high during the whole study period. Behavioral and emotional problems of the girls placed in children's homes increased significantly, being at the same level as the boys' by the end of the study period.