ERIC Number: EJ816069
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Nov
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9630
EISSN: N/A
Change in Psychopathology in Referred Children: The Role of Life Events and Perceived Stress
Willemen, Agnes M.; Koot, Hans M.; Ferdinand, Robert F.; Goossens, Frits A.; Schuengel, Carlo
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, v49 n11 p1175-1183 Nov 2008
Background: This study examined the relation between stress and change in emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents referred for mental health services. Method: At three waves across four years, children and their parents (N = 310, mean age at the first wave = 11.26 years, SD = 3.18) reported emotional and behavioural problems, as well as stressful life events (parent report) and perceived stress (child report). Results: Major life events before referral were associated with higher levels of parent-reported internalising and externalising problems at referral. Life events after referral were associated with a slower recovery from internalising problems. The associations between stressful life events and the course of parent- and self-reported problems were mediated by children's subjective feelings of stress. Conclusion: Stressful life events appear to interfere with recovery from internalising problems in the years after referral through increasing the experience of stress in daily life.
Descriptors: Psychopathology, Referral, Children, Adolescents, Parents, Anxiety, Change, Emotional Problems, Behavior Problems, Experience, Mental Health, Health Services, Longitudinal Studies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A