Table 2

Prevalence of socioemotional behavioural problems at age 14 and univariate RRs (N=6509)

Total %Adolescent socioemotional behavioural problems %RR (95% CI)
Maternal education
 Degree plus6.43.11.00
 Diploma7.67.12.26 (1.44 to 3.54)
 A levels6.75.91.88 (1.13 to 3.15)
 GCSE A–C41.29.73.09 (2.10 to 4.55)
 GCSE D–G17.514.44.60 (2.98 to 7.09)
 None20.6144.48 (2.91 to 6.88)
Child’s sex
 Male53.99.71.18 (0.95 to 1.48)
 Female46.18.21.00
Maternal age at MCS birth (years)
 14–2467.811.51.93 (1.55 to 2.41)
 25+32.26.11.00
Maternal ethnicity
 White93.58.31.00
 Mixed0.526.11.17 (0.55 to 2.47)
 Indian1.82.30.41 (0.24 to 0.68)
 Pakistani2.012.41.19 (0.91 to 1.53)
 Bangladeshi0.500.82 (0.60 to 1.13)
 Black0.910.41.03 (0.68 to 1.56)
 Other0.73.30.62 (0.22 to 1.78)
Smoking in pregnancy
 No62.27.21.00
 Yes37.815.12.06 (1.66 to 2.54)
Alcohol consumption in pregnancy
 None64.610.41.00
 Any unit(s) per week35.47.10.69 (0.56 to 0.86)
Gestational age at birth
 Preterm6.29.81.11 (0.75 to 1.65)
 Regular term93.88.91.00
Child’s birth weight
 Low weight92.511.51.34 (0.91 to 1.96)
 Normal+7.58.81.00
Breast feeding at least 4 months
 Yes195.31.00
 No8110.72.08 (1.59 to 2.73)
Cognitive disability at age 3
 No90.38.51.00
 Yes9.719.72.33 (1.65 to 3.30)
School readiness at age 3
 Average, advanced or very advanced83.78.31.00
 Very delayed or delayed16.314.81.72 (1.26 to 2.34)
Child’s long-term disabilities or illness at age 3
 No76.58.11.00
 Yes23.513.81.73 (1.34 to 2.23)
Maternal mental health problems
 No67.57.31.00
 Yes32.516.52.25 (1.81 to 2.79)
Parenting style
 Firm discipline plus fun44.98.11.00
 Education negligence or excess of rules55.19.81.19 (0.98 to 1.44)
Child–parents conflict relationship
 Low conflicts23.24.71.00
 High conflicts76.812.22.61 (2.08 to 3.27)
Lone parenthood
 No76.67.91.00
 Yes23.415.41.95 (1.49 to 2.54)
Child’s time spent with friends
 Any time per week with friends98.78.91.00
 Not at all1.316.41.86 (0.86 to 4.01)
Being bullied
 Not being bullied86.38.41.00
 Some true or certainly true13.716.21.89 (1.28 to 2.80)
Fights or bullies other peers
 Not fights or bullies65.16.91.00
 Some true or certainly true34.919.52.76 (2.17 to 3.50)
Neighbourhood conditions
 Not at all or nor very common neighbourhood problems26.76.01.00
 Fairly or very common neighbourhood problems73.310.91.84 (1.45 to 2.34)
Neighbourhood safety
 Very safe80.98.31.00
 Fairly safe19.112.91.60 (1.19 to 2.15)
  • GCSE, General Certificate of Secondary Education; RR, relative risk.