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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Status

A Nationwide Register-based Study

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Abstract

Background

Much attention has been given to parental separation as a possible risk factor for adverse child development; however, little information is available regarding the family status of children referred to psychiatric facilities.

Aims

To assess the association between psychiatric illness in childhood and family status compared to the background population.

Methods

Data was derived from a national register on children referred to psychiatric facilities in Denmark and a databank containing detailed statistical information on the Danish society.

Results

Regardless of age significantly fewer children with psychiatric illnesses lived with both biological parents as compared to the background population (51.1% vs 73.3%). There were no gender differences. Analyses of the specific diagnoses association with family status revealed only few significant differences.

Conclusions

Psychiatrically ill children are at increased risk of not living with both biological parents independent of age of the child.

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Acknowledgements

We hereby thank the Child- and Adolescent Psychiatric Society in Denmark (BUP-DK) for granting us permission to use their data. We are also grateful for the helpful comments by the two anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Landemaerket 9, 1119, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Barbara Hoff Esbjorn & Mette Hoeyer

  2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Center, Psychiatric Hospital, 3400, Hillerod, Denmark

    Eline Levin & Jorgen Dyrborg

Authors
  1. Barbara Hoff Esbjorn
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  2. Eline Levin
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  3. Mette Hoeyer
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  4. Jorgen Dyrborg
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Correspondence to Barbara Hoff Esbjorn.

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Esbjorn, B.H., Levin, E., Hoeyer, M. et al. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Status. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 484–490 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-0690-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-0690-z

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