As both socioeconomic deprivation and the prevalence of childhood mental health difficulties continue to increase, exploring the relationship between them is important to guide policy. We aimed to replicate the finding of a mental health gap that widened with age between those living in the most and least deprived areas among primary school pupils. We used data from 2075 children aged 4–9 years in the South West of England recruited to the STARS (Supporting Teachers and childRen in Schools) trial, which collected teacher- and parent-reported Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at baseline, 18-month and 30-month follow-up. We fitted multilevel regression models to explore the relationship between Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile and SDQ total difficulties score and an algorithm-generated “probable disorder” variable that combined SDQ data from teachers and parents. Teacher- and parent-reported SDQ total difficulties scores indicated worse mental health in children living in more deprived neighbourhoods, which was attenuated by controlling for special educational needs and disabilities but remained significant by parent report, and there was no interaction year group status (age) at baseline. We did not detect an association between probable disorder and IMD although an interaction with time was evident (p = 0.003). Analysis by study wave revealed associations at baseline (odds ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 0.97–3.89) and 18 months (1.96, 1.07–3.59) but not 30 months (0.94, 0.54–1.57). These findings augment the existing, highly compelling evidence demonstrating worse mental health in children exposed to socioeconomic deprivation.

随着社会经济剥夺和儿童心理健康困难的患病率不断增加，探索它们之间的关系对于指导政策非常重要。我们的目的是复制这一发现，即生活在最贫困地区和最贫困地区的小学生之间的心理健康差距随着年龄的增长而扩大。我们使用了英格兰西南部 2075 名 4-9 岁儿童的数据，这些儿童被招募参加 STARS（学校支持教师和儿童）试验，该试验收集了教师和家长报告的基线强度和困难问卷 (SDQ)，18 - 一个月和 30 个月的随访。我们拟合了多级回归模型来探索多重剥夺指数（IMD）五分位与 SDQ 总难度分数之间的关系，以及算法生成的“可能障碍”变量，该变量结合了教师和家长的 SDQ 数据。教师和家长报告的 SDQ 总困难分数表明，生活在较贫困社区的儿童的心理健康状况较差，通过控制特殊教育需求和残疾，这种健康状况有所减弱，但家长报告中仍然显着，并且没有互动年份组状态（年龄）在基线。尽管与时间的相互作用很明显（p = 0.003），但我们没有发现可能的疾病与 IMD 之间存在关联。研究波分析显示基线（比值比 1.94，95% 置信区间 0.97-3.89）和 18 个月（1.96，1.07-3.59）有关联，但 30 个月（0.94，0.54-1.57）没有关联。这些发现补充了现有的、非常令人信服的证据，表明遭受社会经济剥夺的儿童的心理健康状况更差。