Health Status > Children

MENTAL HEALTH

In 2003, almost 10 percent of children in the United States had moderate to severe socio-emotional problems. This includes children whose parents reported that they have moderate to severe difficulties with emotions, concentration, behavior, or getting along with others.

Rates of socio-emotional difficulties vary by a number of factors, including sex, age, race/ethnicity, family income, and insurance type. In 2003, a greater proportion of males under age 18 experienced socio-emotional difficulties than their female counterparts (11.3 versus 6.9 percent). Children of multiple races had the highest rate of socio-emotional problems (12.7 percent) followed by non-Hispanic Black children (11.6 percent), and non-Hispanic White children (9.0 percent); Hispanic children had the lowest rate (8.3 percent).

Older children were more likely to experience socio-emotional difficulties than younger children, with 12- to 17-year-olds experiencing the highest rate (10.9 percent) and 3- to 5-year olds experiencing the lowest rate (4.9 percent). Rates declined consistently with increased family income: children with family incomes below 100 percent of the poverty level experienced the highest rate (14.0 percent), while children with family incomes at or above 400 percent of the poverty level experienced the lowest rate (6.1 percent). Children with public insurance had a higher rate of socio-emotional problems than children with private insurance (14.9 versus 7.0 percent); they also had a higher rate than children without insurance (8.0 percent).

> Bar Chart: Children Aged 3-17 Years with Socio-Emotional Difficulties, by Race/Ethnicity: 2003

> Bar Chart: Children with Socio-Emotional Difficulties, by Age: 2003