Father's Health Status and Inequalities in Physical and Mental Health of U.S. Children: A Population-Based Study.

Romuladus E Azuine,Gopal K Singh

doi:10.1089/heq.2019.0051

Abstract

Introduction: Father-and-child-health risk relationship is poorly studied and understood. We examine the impact of father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics on the physical and mental outcomes of U.S. children 0–17 years of age.Methods: The 2011–2012 National Survey of Children's Health (N=75,879) was analyzed to estimate prevalence and odds of poor physical and mental health among children according to father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics.Results: Overall, 3.2% of U.S. children had poor physical health; and 6.0% of U.S. children had emotional or behavioral problems. The adjusted odds of having poor overall health was 3.1 times higher among children of fathers with poor overall health. Children of fathers with poor mental health had 2.6 times higher adjusted odds of having poor mental health.Discussion: Results underscore the significant role of fathers in the physical and mental well-being of children. Engaging fathers in child health may provide a potential opportunity to reduce mental and emotional health problems among children.

Highlights

Father-and-child-health risk relationship is poorly studied and understood
With one in five U.S children or youth suffering from a mental health or learning disorder[2,3] and one out of seven 2-to-8-year olds diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder,[4] mental health disorders are the most common health issues faced by schoolaged children in the United States.[2]
About 14.5% of children whose fathers had poor mental health status had emotional or behavioral disorders compared to 4.3% of children whose fathers had good mental health status

Summary

Introduction

Father-and-child-health risk relationship is poorly studied and understood. We examine the impact of father’s physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics on the physical and mental outcomes of U.S children 0–17 years of age. Child health improvement is a national priority, given that almost one-quarter of U.S children suffer from at least one chronic health condition, and almost 16% are in poor overall health.[1] With one in five U.S children or youth suffering from a mental health or learning disorder[2,3] and one out of seven 2-to-8-year olds diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder,[4] mental health disorders are the most common health issues faced by schoolaged children in the United States.[2] The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among children and studies showing that 80% of chronic mental disorders begin in childhood necessitate an urgent need to identify the predisposing risk factors and signs of these conditions early in life.[3] Understanding the multifactorial risk factors for physical, mental, and emotional disorders among children is important; early identification of physical or mental health disorders ensures early initiation of prevention and intervention strategies that could a Romuladus E.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion