Between 15pc and 20pc of nine-year-olds are growing up with “significant levels of emotional or behaviour problems” according to a major Government-funded study of children’s wellbeing.

The study, Growing Up in Ireland, also found that children in single-parent households, as well as those in more economically disadvantaged families, “displayed higher levels of social and emotional problems”.

It said: “Coming from a lower socio-economic background or single-parent family may increase a child’s risk for poorer social and emotional outcomes. However, processes within the family and child characteristics remain the most important predictors of children’s social and emotional outcomes.”

While it found that a majority of nine-year-olds were developing “without any significant social, emotional or behavioural problems” it said that approximately 15pc – 20pc of children displayed significant levels of emotional or behaviour problems.

Children who experienced high levels of conflict with their mothers and fathers displayed more social and emotional difficulties, it said.

It also found that the psychological well-being of parents and the quality of the relationship between parents was important for children’s social and emotional development.

According to the study, parent-child conflict “was higher in situations where mothers and fathers had experienced depression, and where mothers and fathers were dissatisfied in their relationship with each other”.

The research found that girls were more likely than boys to have emotional problems, such as feeling anxious or sad, while boys were more likely than girls to have problems of a behavioural nature (like fighting with others or being hyperactive).

“In general, boys display more difficulties overall,” the study’s authors said.

Mothers’ depression and marital satisfaction were associated with difficulties for children, but this was largely due to the knock-on effect on the mother-child relationship. However, the study suggested that fathers’ depression and marital satisfaction were not directly related to children’s difficulties.

It also found that the inherent characteristics of children made them “more vulnerable than others to having poor social and emotional outcomes”.

The study said: “Children who are highly emotional or react intensely when they get upset displayed more negative outcomes. Nine-year olds who have a chronic illness are more likely to have higher levels of social and emotional problems.”

Speaking at the launch of the latest findings of the study, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. Said that report confirmed that the quality of family relationships and factors within the home impacted hugely on children’s development.

She said: “Good parenting is crucial for children’s outcomes and that is why this Government is committed to helping parents ensure their child gets the best start in life. It is with this in mind that I have prioritised support for families and parents, in particular those who may be facing periods of difficulty or trouble.”

Growing Up In Ireland is a Government funded study following the progress of almost 20,000 children and their families – a Child Cohort of 8,500 children interviewed at nine years and 13 years of age and an Infant Cohort of 11,100 children participating at nine months and three years of age.

The study is being conducted by a consortium of researchers led by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Trinity College Dublin.