title: [Study on the psychological-health status and its relationship with social capital among left behind children in rural area, Macheng, Hubei province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the status of mental health among left-behind children in rural area and to explore its relationship with social capital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1 031 left behind children, aged 10-18 years, was randomly selected from six schools of two townships in Macheng city of Hubei province where large number of rural parents were working in the urban area. Data from a cross-sectional survey was collected among the sampled students from primary, middle and high schools, using self-designed questionnaires which targeting the 'left-behind' condition and social capital Mental Health Inventory of Middle-School Students (MMHI-60). Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in mental health among different groups. Spearman correlation and logistical regression analysis were applied to assess the relationship between social capital and mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of mental problems was 54.12%. Results from linear χ² test indicated that the detection rates of mental problems were parallel with the monthly pocket money and the reduction in the frequency of contacting migrant father/mother (P < 0.01). Results from the multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that students who were senior(OR = 2.410-2.682, P < 0.001), and who reported not caring about their parents (OR = 2.048-2.420, P < 0.001)were at increased risks for mental health problems. After controlling the demographic characteristics and conditions of staying relevant factors, family social capital(OR = 0.845, 95%CI:0.801-0.891), neighborhood social capital (OR = 0.867, 95%CI:0.826-0.910)and school social capital(OR = 0.893, 95%CI:0.863-0.923) were all associated with declined risks of mental health problems, in which the family social capital was the most important one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of mental health problems was high among the left-behind children in rural area. Much attention should be paid to assist these children in improving their mental health status. One promising approach appeared to be improving social capitals which would include family social capital, neighborhood social capital, and school social capital to assist these children from avoiding mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. Email: sunnyhan189@163.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wayne State University of USA.
authors.forename: Xinguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Senbei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Yanghuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D012424:Rural Population; D066270:Social Capital; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires