Socioeconomic inequalities in parent-reported and teacher-reported psychological well-being

Lewis, H., Hope, S. and Pearce, A. (2014) Socioeconomic inequalities in parent-reported and teacher-reported psychological well-being. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 100(1), pp. 38-41. (doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306288) (PMID:25165074) (PMCID:PMC4283625)

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in the social gradient of parent-reported and teacher-reported child psychological well-being. Design: Secondary data analysis comparing ratings of child psychological well-being (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) in the UK Millennium Cohort Study at 7 years by socioeconomic circumstances (SEC). A number of measures of SEC were tested; results are reported for maternal education. From a sample of 13 168 singletons who participated at the age of 7 years, complete data were available for 8207 children. Results: There was a social gradient in SDQ scores reported by parents and teachers, with ‘borderline/abnormal’ scores more prevalent in children with lower-educated mothers. However, the gradient was more marked in parent report compared with teacher report, and discrepancies between parent and teacher reports were greatest for children from higher SECs. Conclusions: The social gradient in child psychological well-being, although present, was weaker in teacher report compared with parent report. This may be because children behave differently in school and home settings, or parents and teachers demonstrate reporting bias.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pearce, Dr Anna
• Authors: Lewis, H., Hope, S., and Pearce, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Archives of Disease in Childhood
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• ISSN (Online): 1468-2044
• Published Online: 15 December 2014
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 Lewis, H. et al.
• First Published: First published in Archives of Disease in Childhood 100(1):38-41
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License