Maternal mental health and pediatric health care use among a national sample of Medicaid- and SCHIP-insured children.
While the literature has shown that health care use is associated with mental health status, little is known about the relationship between a mother's mental health status and her children's health care use. This study examined the association of maternal mental health status and pediatric health care for their children in a nationally representative sample of 17,830 women parenting children ages 0-17 insured through Medicaid or a State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Mothers with a mental health problem were significantly more likely to be poorer, single parents, with lower levels of education, fewer parenting supports, and greater difficulty coping with parenting than mothers without a mental health problem; however, they reported comparable receipt of pediatric health care for their children, indicating their resilience as caretakers. The findings also suggest that all Medicaid- or SCHIP-eligible families could benefit from targeted engagement strategies linking them with consistent and appropriate sources of pediatric health care.
Cullen
Sara Wiesel
SW
School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania, 3815 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6179, USA. swiesel@sp2.upenn.edu
Matejkowski
Jason C
JC
Marcus
Steven C
SC
Solomon
Phyllis L
PL
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States