Self-concept and mental health status of 'stay-at-home' children in rural China.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the self-concept and mental health status of 'stay-at-home' children and to explore the differences between stay-at-home children and non-stay-at-home children.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Changfeng County to collect information on self-concept and mental health status. Children were classified as 'stay-at-home' or 'non-stay-at-home' for data analysis.


RESULTS
Stay-at-home children accounted for 55.1% of children. The two groups of children differed significantly on the total scores of self-concept (stay-at-home, 52.48 +/- 14.29; non-stay-at-home, 55.24 +/- 15.10). The mental health status of stay-at-home children was poor, with significant difference between them (stay-at-home, 41.17 +/- 12.25; non-stay-at-home, 40.14 +/- 13.11). Using multivariate linear regression analysis, we found that the total P-H score, gender, low family economic status, stay-at-home status and being cared for by an uncle/aunt or an older sibling were independent variables for mental health of the children.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that stay-at-home children have a greater risk of mental health problems than their counterparts in rural Anhui province, China. In addition, this study provides useful baseline information on childhood mental health and has identified important risk factors that would be important in planning strategies for prevention of mental health problems for stay-at-home children.
Zhao
Ke-Fu
KF
Epidemiology and Biostatistics School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Su
Hong
H
He
Li
L
Wu
Jia-Ling
JL
Chen
Ming-Chun
MC
Ye
Dong-Qing
DQ
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires