School Experiences, Children’s Activites Beyond School and Mental Health in Middle Childhood

Abstract

School experiences and children’s activities may be important determinants of mental health problems in middle childhood. At this age, children start to engage into diverse activities beyond family and spend most of their time at school. Therefore, understanding the school experiences, children’s activities and their association with mental health is important for schools and families to support children’s well-being. We gathered data on the school experiences, students ‘activities and mental health of 688 schoolchildren and their parent in three cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang. The questionnaires on children’s activities, school experiences and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire were used. Results showed that more than half of the students had someone they could trust at school. The higher the age was, the fewer person at school they trusted and could rely on. Regarding children’s activities, the notable findings was that studying with someone in the family was the activity children spent time the least though talking with someone in the family was the one they spent the most. School experiences and children’s activities could predict 2.9% variations of mental health problems.