Abstract
Assessing the mental health problems encountered by school children and understanding the contributing factors are crucial to inform strategies aimed at improving mental health in low-resource contexts. However, few studies have investigated the mental health problems among disadvantaged children in poorer countries. This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems in rural China and their association with child and family characteristics. The study uses survey data from 9696 children in 120 rural primary schools and measures child mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Overall, 17.9% of the sample children were found to be in the abnormal range of the SDQ total difficulties scores. The mean score was 12.93 (SD = 4.94). Abnormal scores were associated with child and family characteristics, including older child age (Odds Ratio, OR = 0.704, 95% CI: 0.611, 0.810; p < 0.001), gender (OR = 1.235, 95% CI: 1.112, 1.371; p < 0.001), and academic performance (OR = 0.421, 95% CI: 0.369, 0.480; p < 0.001). Reading time was found to be protective for mental health. Risk factors include excessive screen time (OR = 1.685, 95% CI: 1.409, 2.016; p < 0.001) and being bullied (OR = 3.695, 95% CI: 3.301, 4.136; p < 0.001). Our study suggests that future mental health illness prevention programs in rural China should consider targeting different aspects of children’s social contexts.
Highlights
Mental health problems are significant contributors to the disease burden of children across the globe [1]
A total of 17.9% of the sample children were found to be in the abnormal range of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties scale, indicating that they may be at risk of having mental health problems
Using data from 120 rural primary schools in China, our findings indicate that children in rural China potentially bear one of the highest risks for mental health problems in the world
Summary
Mental health problems are significant contributors to the disease burden of children across the globe [1]. If left untreated, can result in significant economic burdens on society [4]. Accurate estimates of the prevalence of child mental illness in developing countries, as well as the identification of potential risk and protective factors, are essential for setting up adequate and timely services and diminishing the long-term economic as well as health consequences of child mental disorders. The combination of increased exposure to risk factors such as poverty and the paucity of local screening and treatment services make rural children vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes [7]
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