Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa
Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) children are at high-risk neurodevelopmentally due to the prevalence of infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies and compromised caregiving. However, few mental health screening measures are readily available for general use. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001286/type/journal_article |
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| author | Roméo Zoumenou Nathalie Costet Michael J. Boivin Jaqueline Wendland Florence Bodeau-Livinec |
| author_facet | Roméo Zoumenou Nathalie Costet Michael J. Boivin Jaqueline Wendland Florence Bodeau-Livinec |
| author_sort | Roméo Zoumenou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) children are at high-risk neurodevelopmentally due to the prevalence of infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies and compromised caregiving. However, few mental health screening measures are readily available for general use. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been used as a mental health screening measure in the SSA, but its psychometric properties are not well understood. Five hundred and sixty-six mothers completed the SDQ for their 6-year-old children in rural Benin north of Cotonou. These were mothers who had been part of a malarial and intestinal parasite treatment program and micronutrient fortification intervention program during pregnancy for these children. Their study children (N = 519) completed the computerized Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA-visual) as a performance-based screening assessment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. In evaluating the relationship between the SDQ and TOVA, we controlled for maternal risk factors such as depression, poor socioeconomic status and educational level, along with the child’s schooling status. TOVA measures of impulsivity were significantly related to SDQ emotional and hyperactivity/inattention difficulties. TOVA inattention was related to SDQ emotional difficulties. The triangulation of maternal risk factors (e.g., depression), the SDQ and the TOVA can provide effective screening for mental health issues in SSA children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f1207c19ddb448a9fd6940a59c79702 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f1207c19ddb448a9fd6940a59c797022025-01-16T21:53:17ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512025-01-011210.1017/gmh.2024.128Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin AfricaRoméo Zoumenou0Nathalie Costet1Michael J. Boivin2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0097-1777Jaqueline Wendland3Florence Bodeau-Livinec4Paris Descartes’ Cognition, Conduct and Human Behavior Doctoral School (ED 261), Université Paris Cité, Paris, France Laboratoire Psychopathologie et Processus en Santé, Institute de Psychologie, Boulogne, FranceEHESP, Inserm, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) – UMR_S 1085, University de Rennes, Rennes, FranceDepartment of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA Department of Neurology & Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USALaboratoire Psychopathologie et Processus en Santé, Institute de Psychologie, Boulogne, FranceEHESP, Inserm, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) – UMR_S 1085, University de Rennes, Rennes, FranceSub-Sahara Africa (SSA) children are at high-risk neurodevelopmentally due to the prevalence of infectious disease, nutritional deficiencies and compromised caregiving. However, few mental health screening measures are readily available for general use. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been used as a mental health screening measure in the SSA, but its psychometric properties are not well understood. Five hundred and sixty-six mothers completed the SDQ for their 6-year-old children in rural Benin north of Cotonou. These were mothers who had been part of a malarial and intestinal parasite treatment program and micronutrient fortification intervention program during pregnancy for these children. Their study children (N = 519) completed the computerized Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA-visual) as a performance-based screening assessment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. In evaluating the relationship between the SDQ and TOVA, we controlled for maternal risk factors such as depression, poor socioeconomic status and educational level, along with the child’s schooling status. TOVA measures of impulsivity were significantly related to SDQ emotional and hyperactivity/inattention difficulties. TOVA inattention was related to SDQ emotional difficulties. The triangulation of maternal risk factors (e.g., depression), the SDQ and the TOVA can provide effective screening for mental health issues in SSA children.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001286/type/journal_articlemental healthADHDchildrenAfricaStrength and Difficulties QuestionnaireTests of Variables of Attentionpsychosocial adjustmentcaregiving qualityBeninpoverty |
| spellingShingle | Roméo Zoumenou Nathalie Costet Michael J. Boivin Jaqueline Wendland Florence Bodeau-Livinec Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health mental health ADHD children Africa Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire Tests of Variables of Attention psychosocial adjustment caregiving quality Benin poverty |
| title | Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa |
| title_full | Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa |
| title_fullStr | Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa |
| title_short | Associations between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in rural school-aged children in Benin Africa |
| title_sort | associations between the strengths and difficulties questionnaire sdq and tests of variables of attention tova in rural school aged children in benin africa |
| topic | mental health ADHD children Africa Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire Tests of Variables of Attention psychosocial adjustment caregiving quality Benin poverty |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001286/type/journal_article |
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