Mental Health Status of Bavarian Preschool ChildrenAbstract Number:2108 Angelika Zach, Nicole Meyer, Lana Hendrowasito, Stefanie Kolb, Dorothee Twardella, Gabriele Bolte, Uta Nennstiel-Ratzel, Caroline Herr*, and GME study group Angelika Zach Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Nicole Meyer Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Lana Hendrowasito Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Stefanie Kolb Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Dorothee Twardella Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Gabriele Bolte Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Uta Nennstiel-Ratzel Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Caroline Herr* Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and GME study group Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Germany Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground: Several studies showed that a great proportion of mental health disorders have their beginnings in childhood and adolescence. The goal of this study was therefore to examine the relationship between sociodemographic, as well as environmental factors, and mental health status among preschool children. In order to review and increase the transferability of the results of the health monitoring units to all preschool children in Bavaria weighting factors were calculated.Methods: Parent-report based data on 6,206 preschool children of a cross-sectional study implemented within the school entrance examination in Bavaria were available. Data on mental health status were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze associations of sociodemographic and environmental factors with children’s mental health status. A weighting method was applied to correct for deviances of the target population (N=132.783).Results: Approximately 11 % of all preschool children show mental health problems. Regarding different indicators of sociodemographic status, low household income [OR 3.34 95 % CI 2.23-4.98] show the strongest association with mental health problems. Among factors in the living environment, non-accessibility of green space [OR 2.74 95 % CI 1.87-4.00] is most strongly associated with mental health. The results of the unweighted and weighted analysis are similar.Conclusions: The results indicate that sociodemographic status and factors in the living environment are associated with mental health. Based on the results of the unweighted and weighted analyses, the health monitoring units in 2005-06 can be compared to all Bavarian preschool children.