Adolescent mental health disparities in rural Guizhou vs. urban Beijing: A comparative analysis from China

Abstract

BackgroundMental health disorders are the leading cause of disability in youth globally. China has the world's second largest youth population with growing urban-rural inequalities. Guizhou is China's poorest province, and its rural youth mental health is seldom studied. Aims(1) to examine the prevalence and gender differences in drug use, depressive symptoms, social support, and externalizing behaviors in adolescents from an underserved rural Guizhou community; (2) to compare these measures between our sample and an urban Beijing sample. Subject and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12–14 years-old from rural Guizhou using the Global School-based Student Health Survey. Prevalence of 19 mental health risk factors and behaviors were examined and compared to those from a public urban Beijing sample. Associations of mental health variables with gender and rural residence were examined using multivariable logistic regression models in a combined analysis. ResultsMental health risk factors and behaviors were more prevalent in our rural sample for 9/19 surveyed items. Rural adolescent in our sample had higher risks in experiencing troubles due to drinking, loneliness, insomnia, hopelessness, poor social support and poor parental understanding, injuries, and absenteeism. Girls compared to boys had lower risks of excessive drinking, smoking, fighting, injures and being bullied. ConclusionRural adolescents from an underserved Guizhou community were significantly more vulnerable to mental health risk factors and behaviors compared to urban Beijing peers and gender mattered. Research on context- and gender-informed interventions is needed.