Abstract

Background: There is a lack of studies comparing mothers´ and fathers´ assessments of their children´s behavior and skills, especially considering infants and toddlers. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore differences and similarities in the way Finnish mothers and fathers assess their infants´ and toddlers´ social-emotional skills and problems by using the BITSEA. Methods: The BITSEA questionnaires were delivered to parents with a 12/18-month-old child attending a routine health examination by a nurse in child health centres in Oulu. In the years 2008-09 parents of 18-month-old children (n = 173, 98 girls, 75 boys) and in the years 2010-11 parents of 12-month-old children (n = 185, 94 girls and 91 boys) filled in the BITSEA. Those children who were scored as having possible problems and/or deficits in competencies in the BITSEA and a typically developing control group were invited with their parents to a clinical child psychiatric examination. Results: 18-month-old toddlers: Maternal BITSEA competence mean score was significantly higher than paternal both in boys and girls. Maternal BITSEA total problem mean score was significantly higher than paternal in boys, but not in girls. 12-month-old infants: There were no significant differences between the competence mean scores by mothers and fathers, neither in boys nor in girls, nor between parents´ ratings in the total problem mean scores in girls. A suggestively significant difference was found between parents´ ratings concerning the total problem mean scores in boys, as mothers rated higher problem scores to boys than did fathers. Discussion: Mothers seem to perceive their 18-month-old toddlers´ social-emotional competences more sensitively than fathers do. Mothers might experience young boys as more “challenging” than do fathers. Further research is needed to elucidate factors behind these preliminary results.