OBJECTIVE
To assess gender and age differences in the average mental health indicators in the population sample of children and adolescents.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was conducted over a long period across various segments of the population in Siberian regions; 11% of participants lived in rural areas. The sample included 9.648 children and adolescents (50% female): 2316 preschoolers 2—6 years old (24%), 3449 junior schoolchildren 7—10 years old (36%), 1839 junior teenagers 11—14 years old (19%), and 2044 older teenagers 15—18 years old (21%). Children’s mental health was assessed using the international screening Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents; the Russian version of the SDQ was previously validated by the authors. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to assess the effects of gender, age, and their interaction; subsequent comparisons of age groups were performed using the Tukey method.
RESULTS
Compared to girls, boys had lower levels of prosocial behavior and higher levels of all mental health problems except emotional symptoms. Gender differences accounted for less than 1% of the variation across all measures, except for internalization (2.4%) and hyperactivity/inattention (3.1%). Age contributed significantly more, accounting for 6.2% of the variation in hyperactivity/inattention, 3.6% of internalization, and about 3% of emotional symptoms, externalization, and the impact of mental health problems on children’s daily lives. The age characteristics of prosocial behavior and peer relationship problems were not associated with gender among children; the age trends of other indicators differed between boys and girls. In adolescence, the level of mental health problems and their impact on life decreased significantly; these changes were more pronounced in boys.
CONCLUSION
Gender and age-specific features of mental health of children and adolescents indicate the specific features of successful and deviant development. These features should be considered when creating effective intervention programs.
