Behaviours and Emotions in Preschoolers

Behaviours and Emotions in Preschoolers - Detecting Mental Health Problems in Preschool Children in a Primary Care Population

In this TARGet Kids! Study, we want to find out whether a short questionnaire can be used to help find out about mental health problems in preschool age children.

Research indicates that more than 1 in 10 preschoolers have significant social, emotional and behavioural problems also known as mental health problems. Unfortunately, parents and doctors rarely identify mental health problems in young children in order to begin treatment. We are testing a short five-minute questionnaire completed by parents to see if this may help a doctor notice if a child has social, emotional and behavioural problems.

In addition, we also hope to find out if the presence of feelings of stress and depression in on or both parents may be associated with mental health problems in their preschool child.

This study is being conducted by researchers at SickKids and St. Michael's Hospital.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Child is between age 2 to 4 years.
2. Parent is the primary caretaker for the child and is able to speak, read and understand English well enough to complete the forms and the PAPA interview.
3. Either one or both parents (primary caretakers) are available to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children with associated health conditions affecting growth (e.g. failure to thrive, cystic fibrosis);
2. Children with any acute or chronic conditions except for asthma and high functioning autism;
3. Children with severe developmental delay;
4. Children with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks;
5. Families who are not fluent in English.