Growing up in Ireland: national longitudinal study of children - how families matter for social and emotional outcomes of 9-year-old children

This report is concerned with how families matter for the social and emotional outcomes of nine-year-olds in \nthe Growing Up in Ireland study. The analysis considers how these outcomes relate to the characteristics of \nboth the child and the child’s family. Data were collected from teachers and mothers on children’s social, \nemotional and behavioural problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Data on child \ncharacteristics, the quality of the parent-child relationship, parental depression, and marital satisfaction \nwere gathered from mothers and fathers, while children reported on mothers’ and fathers’ parenting styles. \nData on family structure and income levels were also included in the analysis. The findings presented are \nbased on tests of associations among variables and interpretation requires caution about inferring causality \nto these relationships.