The analyses of depression and correlative factors of left-behind children in Ningxia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationships between depression and life events and coping style of left-behind children in Ningxia rural district. Methods 1455 children, between 7 and 15 years old, of which 643 were left-behind children and 812 were non-left-behind children, were selected from six primary schools and two junior middle schools in Ningxia using cluster-random-sampling.All of them were assessed by the Depression Self-rating Scale for Children (DSRSC), Adolescent Self-rating Life Event Checklist ( ASLEC)and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between left-behind children’s depression phenomenon and all items in the questionnaires above, and Hierarchical multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlative factors associated with depression among left-behind children. Results The detectable rate of left-behind children and non-left-behind children’s depression were respectively 30.30% and 21.20%, and the former was higher than the later (χ2=15.909, P<0.01). In the left-behind children group, the depression relevance ratio were significant difference(35.23% vs.26.52%) between the 7-11 years old group and the 12 to 15 one(P<0.05). The detectable rate of Han and Hui ethnic children(29.00% vs.37.14%)had no statistically significance.Except positive replying, left-behind children had got higher scores in all factors of DSRSC, ASLEC and negative replying compared with non-left-behind children. According to the Pearson correlation analysis, the scores of DSRSC had positive correlation with all factors in ASLEC, while had negative correlation with active coping style in SCSQ (P<0.05). According to hierarchical multiple linear regression, positive replying, passive coping style, health and adaptation and human relationship went into the equation, which were important predictive variables for depression. Conclusion The left-behind children in Ningxia have high detectable rate of depression, and active coping styles are useful buffer for the life events’ harmful effects. Key words: Left-behind children; Depression; Life events; Coping style