Table 3

Adjusted average scores for total SDQ, five SDQ subscores, SCL-10 score, and grade in boys and girls in different relative age groups within a school year

Boys

Girls

Oldest

Middle

Youngest

p

Oldest

Middle

Youngest

p

Total SDQ score

9.01

8.90

9.31

0.07

10.61

10.56

10.37

0.35

SDQ Emotional

1.74

1.67

1.77

0.24

3.55

3.35

3.27

0.07

SDQ Hyperactivity

3.43

3.42

3.44

0.95

3.68

3.78

3.61

0.19

SDQ Conduct problems

2.34

2.24

2.32

0.39

1.91

2.01

1.97

0.46

SDQ Peer problems

1.52 *

1.56

1.74 *

<0.001

1.47

1.42

1.42

0.70

SDQ Pro social

6.96

6.81

6.92

0.41

7.90

7.95

7.84

0.46

SCL-10 score

0.64

0.62

0.62

0.62

0.94

0.94

0.89*

0.003

Average grade

3.90 *

3.87

3.82 *

0.009

4.14 *

4.06 *

4.03 *

<0.001

Scores were adjusted for ethnicity, gender, parental education, and social support from family, class, teachers, and friends. * indicates the groups that differed significantly from each other by Tukey's post hoc test (p = 0.05).

Lien et al. BMC Public Health 2005 5:102   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-5-102