4.2 Findings from Growing Up in Ireland Cohort 08 at age 3 years28F

Below are some interesting key findings about relationships and socio-emotional well-

being from when Cohort 08 were surveyed at age 3 (Williams et al. 2013):

•The average scores from the Primary Caregiver (PCG) on the positive aspects and conflict sections of the Pianta scale were 34 and 15, respectively, indicating a strong relationship and low levels of conflict between the PCG and study child.

•There were significant differences between boys and girls on four of the five Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) subscales, which measures emotional and behavioural well-being. Boys showed higher levels of difficulties on the conduct problems, hyperactivity and peer-problems subscales, according to parental report. Although there was no significant difference between boys and girls on the emotional symptoms subscale, when averaged across the four dimensions comprising the total difficulties score, boys had significantly higher levels of difficulties overall. Girls by contrast scored more highly than boys on the pro-social subscale of the SDQ.

•Five per cent of children were classified as having a problematic behavioural profile on the SDQ where the Primary Caregiver scored in the less-stressed group of the parenting stress score at both Wave 1 and Wave 2, but the prevalence of behavioural problems increased to 25% among parents who were in the more-stressed group at both time points.

•The amount of contact children had with their non-resident parent (according to the resident parent) varied considerably; 23% had daily contact but 28% had no contact. For those children whose biological parent was non-resident at both waves, just over half (55 per cent) of those who had daily contact as

29 Subsequent references to ‘Cohort 08 at 3’ relate to the Growing Up in Ireland study unless otherwise specified

infants still had daily contact as 3-year-olds, but nearly 9 per cent had no contact at Wave 2.

•With relation to parenting support from grandparents, around 64% of study children had a grandparent babysit them at least once every 3 months or more regularly.

4.3 Topics from Comparable Studies