ABSTRACT
Development of Mental Health Problems of Girls and Boys in Residential Care Between 2008 and 2020 Abstract. Objective: Studies show a high prevalence of mental health problems in children and adolescents in youth-welfare facilities compared to the general population. However, to date, studies on this development over time are lacking. The present study examines the development of mental health problems and psychosocial functioning in the years 2008 to 2020. Method: Mental health problems were assessed with the CBCL, psychosocial functioning with Axis VI of the MAS. In total, data from 3,269 children and adolescents from residential-care facilities located throughout Germany were included in the analysis. Results: a decrease in externalizing behaviour was observed regarding the frequency of mental health problem in children and adolescents in youth-welfare facilities from 2008 to 2020. Particularly boys aged 12 and older show less deviant behavior. Older girls show high internalizing behavior problem scores over time, but there is no consistent trend. More than a quarter of the institutionalized children in youth-welfare institutions show severely impaired psychosocial functioning at a consistent level over time. Conclusions: In light of the age and gender effects associated with the development of mental health problems over time, there is a need to regard the care situation in youth-welfare institutions.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Male , Child , Female , Adolescent , Humans , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Health , Germany/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Do Children and Adolescents with Different Reasons for Admission Equally Benefit from Institutional Care? Currently, almost 150.000 children and adolescents are placed in institutional care in Germany with the aim to improve their living conditions. Various studies showed positive effects concerning the development of those institutionalized children and adolescents. Within the present study, 500 children and adolescents in institutional care were examined regarding the improvement of quality of life and social competencies during their care placement depending on the respective reason for admission (group A: admission due to mental health and behavior problems; group S: problems in the context of the school; group O: no mental health problems, but other reasons). Furthermore, differences in the development of children and adolescents who initiated the placement by themselves and those who did not were examined. Results show that over a period of 18-24 months, all three groups developed effectively equally. Group A had a lower initial level regarding quality of life and social competencies compared to group S and group O and therefore reached lower outcomes within the investigation period. Development was irrespective of whether or not children and adolescents initiated the institutional placement by themselves. The results demonstrate that all three groups were able to benefit from institutional care, although children and adolescents with mental health problems had a notable potential for further development.
Subject(s)
Child, Institutionalized/psychology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Problem Behavior/psychology , Quality of Life , Social Skills , Adolescent , Child , Germany , Humans , Mental HealthABSTRACT
Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health in Residential Youth Care Settings Young people in residential youth care show a higher prevalence of mental problems than other children. This study gives an overview about the current situation of children and young people in the residential youth welfare service in Rostock (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany). In 2008 a similar study for the rural district Bad Doberan (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany) was conducted by Engel, Pätow, and Häßler (2009). This research was carried out with two measuring times over a period of eight months starting 2010. 48 young people and their keyworker as well as teachers answered Achenbach's self- and third-party-assessment forms for mental problems. Furthermore the Barrat-Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Youth-Psychopathic Inventory were used to get information about traits of Psychopathy. The result showed that 51 % of the young people rated themselves as clinical relevant. Female probands reached higher scores than the male. The third-party assessment displayed 45 % in clinical scores. These scores, presented by a dimensional assessment, confirm the higher prevalence of mental problems in residential youthcare settings. A long term improvement of the life situation of psychological stressed children and adolescents, who are living in residential care homes, can only be achieved by an intensive cooperation of all the involved institutions and professions. The basis for this is the realisation of this necessity as well as the deduction and implementation of appropriate curricula, which imparts the required abilities needed for the conversion in the respective professions.