| dc.description.abstract | Background. Antisocial behaviour is the most common mental health problem in childhood and has widespread effects. Therefore, care and support by public services are necessary. Aim. The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency and costs of public services for children with aggressive behaviour. Furthermore, the impact of this behaviour on the families concerned will be examined. Method. Children and their parents were selected when the parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). An aggressive group (score above 90th percentile) and a non-aggressive group (below 50th percentile) were recruited. Parents of both groups filled out the questionnaire: Work & Costs. Results. Children with aggressive behaviour cost significant more in public services: Medical Care, Mental Health Care, Youth Care and Educational Care. These children also cost significant more than average children because of the material damage they cause. Furthermore, the results show that the aggressive behaviour of the children has a significant impact on the family. Conclusion. The differences in costs of public services for children with aggressive behaviour compared to children without this behavior are substantial. On average, children with aggressive behaviour cost society and the family a lot more money. Moreover, these behaviour problems are a heavy burden on their families. Parents experience drawbacks of the negative effects of the child’s problem behaviour in their jobs, household tasks and other activities. Further research concerning the developmental outcomes of children with aggressive behaviour is necessary. | |
