Table 4 Results from the qualitative content analysis, with themes and categories. The table also shows comparisons between boys and girls and between the two age-groups
Theme and Category, n (%) | Girls, n = 11 | Boys, n = 46 | p-valuea | 3–5 years, n = 21 | 6–8 years, n = 36 | p-valueb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Problematic behaviors | 11 (100) | 32 (69.6) | 0.049* | 15 (71.4) | 28 (77.8) | 0.591 |
Problematic traits | 8 (72.7) | 24 (52.2) | 0.315 | 10 (47.6) | 22 (61.1) | 0.322 |
Difficulties | 5 (45.5) | 34 (73.9) | 0.068 | 13 (61.9) | 26 (72.2) | 0.419 |
Norm-breaking behavior | 2 (18.2) | 2 (4.3) | 0.095 | 1 (4.8) | 3 (8.3) | 0.878 |
Provocative behavior | 0 (0) | 6 (13.6) | 0.334 | 2 (9.5) | 4 (11.1) | 0.823 |
Aggressive behavior | 2 (18.2) | 4 (8.7) | 0.586 | 2 (9.5) | 4 (11.1) | 0.823 |
Defiant behavior | 10 (90.9) | 23 (50.0) | 0.017* | 11 (52.4) | 22 (61.1) | 0.440 |
Emotionally externalizing behavior | 6 (54.5) | 16 (34.8) | 0.248 | 7 (33.3) | 15 (41.7) | 0.480 |
Hyperactive behavior | 1 (9.1) | 1 (2.2) | 0.357 | 1 (4.8) | 1 (2.8) | 0.710 |
Negative emotional traits | 3 (27.3) | 18 (39.1) | 0.728 | 5 (23.8) | 16 (44.4) | 0.150 |
Defiant traits | 6 (54.5) | 7 (15.2) | 0.006* | 5 (23.8) | 8 (22.2) | 0.935 |
Hyperactive traits | 0 (0) | 6 (13.0) | 0.334 | 2 (9.5) | 4 (11.1) | 0.823 |
Social difficulties | 1 (9.1) | 10 (21.7) | 0.434 | 2 (9.5) | 9 (25.0) | 0.179 |
Cognitive difficulties | 1 (9.1) | 16 (34.8) | 0.144 | 7 (33.3) | 10 (27.8) | 0.708 |
Inflexibility difficulties | 1 (9.1) | 8 (17.4) | 0.671 | 4 (19.0) | 5 (13.9) | 0.715 |
Emotional regulation difficulties | 1 (9.1) | 6 (13.0) | 0.703 | 3 (14.3) | 4 (11.1) | 0.754 |
Behavioral regulation difficulties | 1 (9.1) | 10 (27.1) | 0.434 | 4 (19.0) | 7 (19.4) | 0.931 |