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Why Mothers and Young Children Agree or Disagree in Their Reports of the Child’s Problem Behavior

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Abstract

This study examined multiple determinants of discrepancies between mother and child reports of problem behavior. In 5,414 6-year-olds, child problem behavior was assessed by self-report using the Berkeley Puppet Interview and by maternal report using the Child Behavior Checklist. Patterns in mother–child reports were modeled using latent profile analysis. Four profiles, differing in problem level, and the direction and magnitude of mother–child discrepancies, were identified: one profile representing agreement (46 %), another representing slight discrepancies (30 %), and two representing higher problem levels and more discrepancies. In the latter two profiles either children (11 %) or mothers (13 %) reported more problems. Compared to the first profile, the second was predominantly characterized by a positive family environment, the third by child cognitive difficulties, and the fourth by harsh discipline and poor family functioning. Knowledge about specific child/family characteristics that contribute to mother–child discrepancies can help to interpret informants’ reports and to make diagnostic decisions.

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Acknowledgments

The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in collaboration with the Erasmus University Rotterdam, School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences; the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam area; the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation; and the Stichting Trombosedienst & Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond (STAR), Rotterdam. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of general practitioners, hospitals, midwives and pharmacies in Rotterdam. The present study was performed in close collaboration with the department of child and adolescent psychiatry of Riagg Rijnmond. The first phase of the Generation R Study was made possible by financial support from: Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). The work of Professor Tiemeier is supported by NWO-ZonMW VIDI (Grant No. 017.106.370).

Conflict of interest

Frank. C. Verhulst is a contributing author of the Achenbach System of Empirically based assessment, from which he receives remuneration. The remaining authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Ank P. Ringoot, Maartje Basten & Vincent W. V. Jaddoe

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO-BOX 2060, 3000 CB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Ank P. Ringoot, Jan van der Ende, Pauline W. Jansen, Maartje Basten, Pety So, Frank C. Verhulst & Henning Tiemeier

  3. Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Pauline W. Jansen

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Jeffrey R. Measelle

  5. Riagg Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Pety So

  6. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Albert Hofman & Henning Tiemeier

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe

  8. Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Henning Tiemeier

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  1. Ank P. Ringoot
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  2. Jan van der Ende
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  7. Vincent W. V. Jaddoe
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  10. Henning Tiemeier
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Correspondence to Henning Tiemeier.

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Ringoot, A.P., van der Ende, J., Jansen, P.W. et al. Why Mothers and Young Children Agree or Disagree in Their Reports of the Child’s Problem Behavior. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 46, 913–927 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-014-0531-x

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