Work

Prosocial behaviour and happiness among children aged 6 to 11 years in Canada

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A gap in Canadian public health surveillance is the monitoring of childhood positive mental health (PMH). We used available data from the first six cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey to examine how two potential PMH indicators are distributed across time and populations of children aged 6 to 11 years. The prevalence of normative parent-rated prosocial behaviour and perceived happiness was high and relatively stable across time. Normative parent-rated prosocial behaviour was more common among females (vs. males) and 8- to 9-year-olds (vs. 6- to 7-year-olds), while perceived happiness was higher among 6- to 7-year-olds (vs. 10- to 11-year-olds).

Source: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada

DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.46.2.03

Authors: Colin A. Capaldi, Danielle Lemaire, Katrina R. Abela, Laura L. Ooi, Melanie Varin

Institutions: Public Health Agency of Canada, McMaster University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7128435104

FWCI:

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: