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Children aged 4-12 years with emotional or behavioural problems in the past six months, as reported by parents or carers, NSW, 2001 (per cent of parents or carers)

		Males	Females	All
Overall	Overall	34.6	27.1	30.9
Age	4 years	19.5	15.6	17.6
	5 years	35.9	26.6	31.3
	6 years	30.1	22.5	26.4
	7 years	33.5	25.9	29.8
	8 years	31.3	31.7	31.5
	9 years	36.2	29.9	33.1
	10 years	39.4	27.4	33.6
	11 years	43.8	28.8	36.4
	12 years	41.6	35.4	38.6

Note: Table based on 6,503 respondents. The question "During the past 6 months, do you think that [child] has had any emotional or behavioural problems?" was asked of parents or carers.

Source: NSW Child Health Survey 2001. Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health (unpublished data).

Comment

In 2001almost one-third (30.9%) of parents or carers reported their 4 to 12 year old had an emotional or behavioural problem in the past six months.

Emotional or behavioural problems were reported more frequently for males than females (34.6% and 27.1% respectively). The reported prevalence of emotional or behavioural problems generally increased with age:

• 17.6% of 4 year olds
• 31.5% of 8 year olds
• 38.6% of 12 year olds.

The biggest change in emotional and behavioural problems appears to be associated with 5 year olds, with an approximately 80% increase in such problems at that time, followed by some downward adjustment at 6 years.

Subsequent age trends are more consistent for males than females, with females showing substantial variation in emotional wellbeing in the later years, but typically at lower rates than for males.