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Table 6 Adjusted mean scores (M) with confidence intervals (CI) of mental health related problems by age category of siblings

From: Effect of household size on mental problems in children: results from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study

Age/number of older siblings

Na Tot = 51 569

3 years

5 years

8 years

Anxiety

Hyperactivity/concentration

Anxiety

Difficult temperament

Anxiety

M (95 % CI)

M (95 % CI)

M (95 % CI)

M (95 % CI)

M (95 % CI)

<6 years

0

28 789

-

-

-

  

1

19 239

-.25 (-.26,-.23)

-.08 (-.10,-.07)

-.16 (-.18,-.13)

-.15 (-.18,-.13)

-.10 (-.14,-.07)

2+

3 541

-.39 (-.42,-.36)

-.27 (-.30,-.24)

-.27 (-.31,-.22)

-.34 (-.39,-.30)

-.19 (-.24,-.14)

6–11 year

0

44 317

-

-

-

-

-

1

5 473

-.06 (-.09,-.03)

-.15 (-.18,-.12)

-.05 (-.09,-.01)

-.19 (-.22,-.15)

-.14 (-.19,-.10)

2+

1 779

-.18 (-.23,-.14)

-.24 (-.29,-.19)

-.13 (-.20,-.07)

-.33 (-.39,-.27)

-.14 (-.21,-.06)

12–18 years

0

49 273

-

-

-

-

-

1

1 777

-.02 (-.07, .03)

-.04 (-.09, .01)

-.04 (-.11, .03)

-.03 (-.10, .04)

-.02 (-.11, .07)

2+

519

-.08 (-.16, .00)

-.08 (-.17, .01)

-.06 (-.17, .05)

-.11 (-.22,-.01)

.07 (-.08, .23)

  1. aTotal number of participants is for 3 years of age. Overall sample sizes are 28 627 for 5 years and 17 594 for 8 years
  2. The outcome scores are z-scaled (SD = 1) with no siblings of the indicated ages as reference. The results are adjusted for maternal and paternal educational level, family income, maternal and paternal period of leave from work after birth, maternal breastfeeding status when child is 18 months, and animals in the family. Significant effects (p < 0.05) in bold