Poorer children more likely to have behaviour problems

Poorer children are twice as likely to start school with behaviour problems, research out yesterday suggests.

More than a third (35 per cent) of the poorest three-year-old boys displayed behaviour problems, compared with one in six (15 per cent) of those living in richer households.

The research, by Elizabeth Washbrook of Bristol University, analysed the responses of parents to a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to compare the behaviour of children aged three to seven. The SDQ asked thousands of parents to rate their child’s behaviour in terms of hyperactivity and inattention, conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and peer problems.

The findings show that the proportion of three-year-old boys from the poorest fifth of homes showing clinical level symptoms of behaviour problems was double that of three-year-olds from the higher four-fifths of homes, in terms of income. By the age of seven, a fifth (22 per cent) of the poorest boys still suffered from behaviour problems, compared to one in 10 (10 per cent) of those from richer homes.

Among girls, the rates were lower, but nearly three in 10 (29 per cent) of the poorest girls exhibited symptoms of behaviour problems, which dropped to a fifth (20 per cent) at age seven.