ABSTRACT
This chapter gives an overview of factors associated with emotional and behavioural disorders in children. In order to focus interventions effectively, be they public health, educational, psychological or social, it is helpful to know what factors place children at risk and what factors may protect children from such disorders. The chapter draws on two studies by the authors. Both these studies were based on longitudinal data from 17,000 children who took part in the National Child Development Study (NCDS).
The first study identifies risk and protective factors for emotional and behavioural problems at 7, 11, and 16.
The second study looks in more depth at the associations between parental background and psychological problems in adolescence and in adult life. It asked, what difference did it make to later psychological well-being whether a child was brought up in a birth, step, widowed or lone parent family? It also asked to what extent did an early experience of extreme social disadvantage and/or experience of public 'care' influence later mental health?
