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Research on the prevalence of behavior problems in preschool children from low-income families, and the risk factors associated with these behaviors, was reviewed. A systematic search of studies conducted between 1991 and 2002 yielded a total of 30 research reports that met all of the preestablished criteria. These studies yielded several findings. Children from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds were found to have a higher incidence of behavior problems as compared to the general population. Behavior problems were associated with multiple risk factors found in these children's lives related to child, parent, and socioeconomic characteristics. The results are discussed in terms of implications for early identification and intervention and directions for future research.
Early identification of and interventions for preschool children who are at increased risk for the development of behavior problems are critical. Preschoolers with early emergent behavior problems are likely to evince serious behavior problems (Duncan, Brooks-Gunn, & Klebanov, 1994; Stormont, 2002), social skill deficits (Mendez, Fantuzzo, & Ciccctti, 2002), and academic difficulties (Tomblin, Zhang, Buckwalter, & Catts, 2000) later in life. Empirical studies have also indicated that peer rejection in childhood is associated with early emergent behavior problems (Wood, Cowan, & Baker, 2002) and can lead to more serious problems during adolescence (Laird, Jordan, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, 2001). The likelihood of developing behavior problems is exacerbated when preschoolers are exposed to multiple risk factors and chronic psychosocial Stressors (Brooks-Gunn, Duncan, & Aber, 1997). Many studies have revealed a complex pattern of variables associated with behavior problems, including child characteristics, family characteristics, and environmental Stressors (Eiden, 1999; Pagan & Iglesias, 2000; Keenan & Wakschlag, 2000).
Relatively few researchers have focused on the prevalence rate of behavior problems in the general, nonclinical population of preschool children (ages 3-5 years). The actual prevalence of behavior problems among young children is difficult to determine with any certainty because the prevalence rates reported in the literature vary greatly. In addition, most studies that reported prevalence of behavior problems in preschool children generally defined the children as having behavior problems on the basis of cutoff scores on adult informant checklisttype measures (Campbell, 1 995). Despite these limitations, the prevalence of behavior problems has been estimated at between 3% and 6% in the general child population (Achenbach &...