Table 1.
Characteristics of the mothers, children and family environment in participating families (n = 403)
| Characteristics | N | % |
|---|---|---|
|
Child sex female |
207 |
51.4 |
|
Child age at interview, mean SD |
9.6 |
0.3 |
|
Maternal age at birth, mean SD |
30.3 |
4.9 |
|
Maternal education* |
|
|
| HS not completed |
124 |
30.8 |
| HS not completed, TAFE or Univ. completed |
61 |
15.1 |
| HS completed only |
68 |
16.9 |
| HS completed, TAFE completed |
67 |
16.6 |
| HS completed, Univ. completed |
83 |
20.6 |
|
Household income† |
|
|
| ≤$31,199 |
119 |
29.5 |
| $31,200-$51,999 |
117 |
29.0 |
| ≥$52,000 |
167 |
41.4 |
|
Experience of stressful events in the family from birth to 2 years |
157 |
39.0 |
|
Number of children in the household at 2 years‡ |
|
|
| 1 child |
103 |
25.5 |
| 2 children |
192 |
47.6 |
| 3 children |
75 |
18.6 |
| ≥4 children |
33 |
8.2 |
|
Additional children in the household from 2 to 3.5 years |
|
|
| None§ |
301 |
74.7 |
| ≥1 child |
102 |
25.3 |
|
Continuously with the same partner from birth to 9 years |
310 |
76.9 |
|
Housing tenure status at 9 years |
|
|
| Purchased own house |
330 |
81.9 |
| Public housing rental |
16 |
4.0 |
| Private rental |
50 |
12.4 |
| Living with extended family |
4 |
1.0 |
| Occupying a residence rent free |
3 |
0.7 |
|
Child behaviour checklist at 9 years |
|
|
| Internalizing behaviour problem score, mean SD |
6.3 |
5.6 |
| Externalizing behaviour problem score, mean SD |
6.8 |
6.7 |
| Transformed internalizing behaviour problem score, mean SD |
2.2 |
1.1 |
| Transformed externalizing behaviour problem score, mean SD | 2.3 | 1.3 |
HS = High School, SD = Standard Deviation, TAFE = Technical and Further Education College, Univ. = University.
*Education recorded during early pregnancy interview.
†Income recorded during late pregnancy interview.
‡Includes the study child.
§Includes 10 families where there were fewer children in the household at 3.5 years than at 2 years.