Associations between left-behind children's characteristics and psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional study from China.
BMC Psychiatry
; 24(1): 510, 2024 Jul 17.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39020309
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Parent-child separation poses a significant challenge for left-behind children (LBC). However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the correlation between left-behind characteristics and the psychological symptoms of LBC. This study investigated psychological symptoms among LBC and explored associations between left-behind characteristics and those symptoms.METHODS:
Using stratified cluster sampling, 1,832 LBC aged 13-18 years from three cities in East China were selected for analysis. Participants' depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the General Anxiety Disorder 7, respectively. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in detection rates of psychological symptoms among LBC in different groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to infer associations between left-behind characteristics and psychological symptoms.RESULTS:
Depression and anxiety symptoms were detected in 32.86% and 33.24%, respectively, of participating LBC. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in detection rates of depression symptoms by sex, grade, and timing of parent-child separation. Statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety symptom rates by sex, grade, type of caregiver, and timing of mother-child separation. Multivariate analysis indicated a positive association between LBC's anxiety symptoms and mother-child separation that occurred during post-primary school, and type of caregiver (father only or mother only). Our findings confirm a positive association between left-behind characteristics and anxiety symptoms among LBC.CONCLUSION:
The timing of mother-child separation and type of caregiver are potential risk factors for the development of anxiety symptoms in this population.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ansiedade
/
Depressão
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Psychiatry
Assunto da revista:
PSIQUIATRIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
China