scholarly journals Mental health problems amongst school-age children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, Ireland and Iran: A call to action and research

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Rajabi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
The Uk

Risk Factors for Mental Health Problems in School-Age Children from a Community Sample

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1825-1834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Vilela Mendes ◽  
José Alexandre de Souza Crippa ◽  
Roberto Molina Souza ◽  
Sonia Regina Loureiro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age

scholarly journals Mental Health and Functioning in School Age Children of Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nil Ean ◽  
Amie Alley Pollack ◽  
Do Khanh Ngoc
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Female Sex Workers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Female Sex

Globally, approximately 10% - 20% of children and adolescents experience mental health problems and the majority of them are living in low- and middle-income countries. Children of female sex workers are often exposed to unsafe environments, traumatic experiences and a mentally ill parent, putting them at risk for developing mental health problems themselves. Research on the mental health and functioning of children of female sex workers during their school age is limited. This paper will explore the mental health and functioning of female sex workers’ children. Method: The study included 160 female entertainment workers (FEWs) and 60 of their children from four provinces of Cambodia. FEW’s mental health, and children’s mental health and functioning were measured. Result: FEWs demonstrated high rates of depression (67%) and anxiety (61%), and 54.38% reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Of the 60 children, the majority got their education at primary school (68%) and secondary school (25%). 46.7% of them reported symptoms of functional impairment, 18.33% suffered from psychological distress, and 36.67% have PTSD symptoms above the clinical threshold. Children’s psychological distress was significantly predicted by mothers’ early childhood traumatic experiences, mothers’ current mental health problems, mothers’ anxiety and PTSD. Mother’s PTSD predicted children’s psychological distress [β = 0.282, R2  = 0.079] and functioning [β = 0.285, R2  = 0.081]. Conclusion: School age children of FEWs have high rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Children’s psychological problems impair their functioning at school and home. FEW’s PTSD predicts their children’s psychological distress and functioning. Further research on the mental health and functioning of FEW’s children should be continued with a larger sample size. Mental health professionals and educators should provide mental health care for FEWs and their children, and develop evidence-based approaches to improving children’s mental health and functioning

scholarly journals How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e043397
Author(s):  
Austen El-Osta ◽  
Aos Alaa ◽  
Iman Webber ◽  
Eva Riboli Sasco ◽  
Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

scholarly journals Child maltreatment, cognitive functions and the mediating role of mental health problems among maltreated children and adolescents in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert E. Ainamani ◽  
Godfrey Z. Rukundo ◽  
Timothy Nduhukire ◽  
Eunice Ndyareba ◽  
Tobias Hecker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems

Abstract Background Child maltreatment poses high risks to the mental health and cognitive functioning of children not only in childhood but also in later life. However, it remains unclear whether child maltreatment is directly associated with impaired cognitive functioning or whether this link is mediated by mental health problems. Our study aimed at examining this research question among children and adolescents in Uganda. Methods A sample of 232 school-going children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.03 (SD = 3.25) was assessed on multiple forms of maltreatment using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology Exposure—Pediatric Version (pediMACE). Executive functions were assessed by the Tower of London task and working memory by the Corsi Block Tapping task, while mental health problems were assessed using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for PTSD and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Results In total, 232 (100%) of the participant reported to have experienced at least one type of maltreatment in their lifetime including emotional, physical, and sexual violence as well as neglect. We found a negative association between child maltreatment and executive functions (β = − 0.487, p < 0.001) and working memory (β = − 0.242, p = 0.001). Mental health problems did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions Child maltreatment seems to be related to lower working memory and executive functioning of affected children and adolescents even after controlling for potential cofounders. Our study indicates that child maltreatment the affects children’s cognitive functionality beyond health and well-being.

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