The Mental Health and Life Satisfaction of Children of Drug Abusers in Wenzhou, China

Abstract

The spread of illegal drug use among adult caregivers of children raises many serious concerns. These concerns are intensified in situations in which drug-using adults are responsible for providing for the care, safety, and general well-being of the children under their care. The relative complexity of these situations is further compounded by the absence of rigorous scientific inquires into the mental health of children being raised in such situations. This survey utilized the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) to measure the mental health and life satisfaction of the children (aged 8 to 18 years) with at least one parent who is a drug abuser. The analysis results show that the psychological health of the children is poor and the mental health of the children affects their life satisfaction. Parents who are addicted to drugs may have an impact on the life satisfactions of their children regardless of the age of the child, and the impact on boys is more serious than on girls.