scholarly journals Impact of parental divorce versus separation due to migration on mental health and self-injury of Chinese children: a cross sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Jingjing Lu ◽  
Leesa Lin ◽  
Jingjing Cai ◽  
Jiayao Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Internalizing Problems ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Parental Divorce ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Self Injury

Abstract Background There has been an increasing prevalence of parental separation in China due to divorce or migration for work in recent decades. However, few studies have compared the impacts of these two types of separation on children’s mental health. This study aimed to investigate how parental divorce and parental migration impact children’s mental health and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB), while considering positive factors, including parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience. Methods We randomly recruited participants in grades 5–8 from 18 schools in 2 counties in Anhui Province. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted to measure children’s mental health, SITB, parent-adolescent communication, psychological resilience, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results Data from 1026 children with both parents migrating (BLBC), 1322 children with one parent migrating (SLBC), 475 children living in a divorced family (DC) and 1160 children with non-migrating parents (NLBC) were included. Regression model results showed that, compared to the other three groups (BLBC, SLBC, NLBC), DC exhibited higher internalizing problems (p < 0.05), higher externalizing problems (p < 0.01), less prosocial behaviors (p < 0.05), and higher rates of suicidal ideation (SI) (p < 0.05) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors (p < 0.05) when adjusting for social-demographic variables. However, when further adjusting for parent-adolescent communication and psychological resilience, DC no longer had higher levels of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, NSSI and SI than left-behind groups (BLBC, SLBC). Conclusions The experience of separation from divorced parents had stronger negative effects on the mental health of children than was observed in LBC. The Chinese government should design special policy frameworks that provide support to DC.

Parenting and child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Whittle ◽  
Katherine Olivia Bray ◽  
Sylvia Lin ◽  
Orli Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Family System ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Trauma Symptoms ◽  
Parent Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Early work indicates the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. Understanding which children may be more at risk for mental health problems, and which risk factors are amenable to change is crucial. The importance of studying children’s mental health within the context of the family system is recognized. Methods: The current study investigated associations between parent factors, and children’s mental health during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic across a number of Western countries (primarily Australia and the United Kingdom). Parents (N = 385) reported on their pandemic-related stress, mental health, and parenting behaviors, in addition to mental health changes in their 5-17 year old children (N = 481) during April/May 2020. Results: Analyses revealed significant associations between parent COVID-19 pandemic stress, parent depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and increases in child internalizing and externalizing problems. Harsh parenting behavior was associated with trauma symptoms and increases in externalizing problems. Further, some associations were more pronounced for children with existing mental health problems, and for disadvantaged and single parent families. Limitations: The data was cross-sectional, the majority of participant parents were female, and all data were parent-report. Conclusions: Findings suggest the importance of parents in influencing children’s mental health during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further work is needed to investigate longer-term impacts.

scholarly journals Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family mental health in Canada: findings from a national cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e042871
Author(s):  
Anne C Gadermann ◽  
Kimberly C Thomson ◽  
Chris G Richardson ◽  
Monique Gagné ◽  
Corey McAuliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Families With Children ◽  
At Home

ObjectivesIn the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, school/child care closures and employment instability have created unprecedented conditions for families raising children at home. This study describes the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with children in Canada.Design, setting and participantsThis descriptive study used a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of adults living in Canada (n=3000) to examine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes among parents with children <18 years old living at home (n=618) were compared with the rest of the sample. Data were collected via an online survey between 14 May to 29 May 2020.Outcome measuresParticipants reported on changes to their mental health since the onset of the pandemic and sources of stress, emotional responses, substance use patterns and suicidality/self-harm. Additionally, parents identified changes in their interactions with their children, impacts on their children’s mental health and sources of support accessed.Results44.3% of parents with children <18 years living at home reported worse mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 35.6% of respondents without children <18 living at home, χ2 (1, n=3000)=16.2, p<0.001. More parents compared with the rest of the sample reported increased alcohol consumption (27.7% vs 16.1%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=43.8, p<0.001), suicidal thoughts/feelings (8.3% vs 5.2%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.0, p=0.005) and stress about being safe from physical/emotional domestic violence (11.5% vs 7.9%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.1, p=0.005). 24.8% (95% CI 21.4 to 28.4) of parents reported their children’s mental health had worsened since the pandemic. Parents also reported more frequent negative as well as positive interactions with their children due to the pandemic (eg, more conflicts, 22.2% (95% CI 19.0 to 25.7); increased feelings of closeness, 49.7% (95% CI 45.7 to 53.7)).ConclusionsThis study identifies that families with children <18 at home have experienced deteriorated mental health due to the pandemic. Population-level responses are required to adequately respond to families’ diverse needs and mitigate the potential for widening health and social inequities for parents and children.

scholarly journals Parental divorce or separation and children's mental health

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D'Onofrio ◽  
Robert Emery
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Parental Divorce ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health

scholarly journals Mother–Child Reminiscing About Emotionally Negative Events and Children’s Long-Term Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Bee Kim Koh ◽  
Qi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
European American ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Social Self

The present study examined the longitudinal relation between mother–child reminiscing of emotionally negative events and children’s mental health. European-American and Chinese-American mothers discussed with their 4.5-year-old children an event that was emotionally negative to the child. At age 7, children’s mental health was assessed, including measures for externalizing problems, internalizing problems, negative social self (an Asian-salient dimension of depression), behavioral problems, and socially adaptive behavior. Independent of culture, maternal reference to negative emotional terms was related to fewer externalizing, internalizing, and behavior problems in children. Maternal attribution of emotions to children was associated with lower negative social self in children. Maternal explanation of children’s emotions was linked to fewer externalizing problems and lower negative social self in children, and maternal reconfirmation of the explanations was related to fewer externalizing and behavioral problems in children. In contrast, maternal attribution of emotions to other people was associated with more externalizing problems and higher negative social self in children of both cultures. Some important cultural differences emerged. Chinese-American mothers’ mention of negative emotional terms was linked to lower negative social self in children, and Chinese-American mothers’ reconfirmation of explanation was related to more socially adaptive behaviors in children. No such relations were found in the European-American sample. The findings underscore the importance of family emotional reminiscing for children’s long-term well-being and the role of culture in shaping the process.

scholarly journals Mother-Child Reminiscing about Emotionally Negative Events and Children’s Long-Term Mental Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Bee Kim Koh ◽  
Qi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Chinese American ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
European American ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Social Self

The present study examined the longitudinal relation between mother-child reminiscing of emotionally negative events and children’s mental health. European-American and Chinese-American mothers discussed with their 4.5-year old children an event that was emotionally negative to the child. At age 7, children’s mental health was assessed, including measures for externalizing problems, internalizing problems, negative social self (an Asian-salient dimension of depression), behavioral problems, and socially adaptive behavior. Independent of culture, maternal reference to negative emotional terms was related to fewer externalizing, internalizing, and behavior problems in children, maternal attribution of emotions to children was associated with lower negative social self in children, maternal explanation of children’s emotions was linked to fewer externalizing problems and lower negative social self in children, and maternal reconfirmation of the explanations was related to fewer externalizing and behavioral problems in children. In contrast, maternal attribution of emotions to other people was associated with more externalizing problems and higher negative social self in children of both cultures. Some important cultural differences emerged. Chinese-American mothers’ mention of negative emotional terms was linked to lower negative social self in children, and Chinese-American mothers’ reconfirmation of explanation was related to more socially adaptive behaviors in children. No such relations were found in the European-American sample. The findings underscore the importance of family emotional reminiscing for children’s long-term well-being and the role of culture in shaping the process.

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