Family planning and child mental health in China: the Nanjing Survey

Ws, Tseng; Tao, Kuo-Tai; J, Hsu; Jh, Chiu; Liu, Yu; Kameoka,

doi:10.1176/ajp.145.11.1396

Cited by 48 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The one-child policy has led to a stronger preference for boys, and disappointment over the infant's gender is a significant risk factor for perinatal depression in China (Xie et al, 2011). Furthermore, women without siblings are more likely to be affected by negative mood states (Tseng et al, 1988). Perinatal depression appears to be common in rural areas where no treatment is available and the stigma is high (Wong & Fisher, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

When a New Mother Becomes Mentally Unhealthy, It Is Everyone’s Problem: Shanghai Women’s Perceptions of Perinatal Mental Health Problems

Schwank

Lindgren²,

Wickberg

et al. 2020

Women's Reproductive Health

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Sixteen women in Shanghai participated in semistructured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to interpret their responses. An overarching theme, three main themes, and 13 subthemes were identified. The overarching theme (the old ways and the new-transition into motherhood) in new China, had these main themes: (1) urban Chinese women's transition into motherhood; (2) family's support and struggle with tradition; and (3) modern society in the shade of the past. The transition from tradition and modernity can be a source of conflict between the generations and can negatively impact new mothers' mental health. Loneliness, feeling misunderstood, illiteracy, parental generation's beliefs, and health-care providers' attitudes are all barriers to access to care.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

When a New Mother Becomes Mentally Unhealthy, It Is Everyone’s Problem: Shanghai Women’s Perceptions of Perinatal Mental Health Problems

Schwank

Lindgren²,

Wickberg

et al. 2020

Women's Reproductive Health

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“…The theory that the OCP created Little Emperors was based on the assumption that only children would be overindulged and overprotected by their two parents and four grandparents, leading the children to develop undesirable personalities and poor mental health. In response to widespread concern about Little Emperors, many studies were conducted to examine the mental health of the Chinese children, comparing them to their peers with siblings on a variety of outcomes, including psychopathology (e.g., Tao, 1998; Tseng et al, 1988; Wang & Fong, 2009; Yang, Ollendick, Dong, Xia, & Lin, 1995). The purpose of this study is to synthesize quantitatively the results of these studies of psychopathology.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

China’s only children and psychopathology: A quantitative synthesis.

Falbo¹,

Hooper²

2015

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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The goal of this study is to synthesize quantitatively the results of studies of psychopathology among Chinese only children. Since 1979, China's one-child policy has generated large numbers of only children, especially in large urban centers, where the one-child family has become a social norm. Motivated by concern for mental health, 22 studies, based on the SCL-90, have been published that compare the scores of only children to their peers with siblings. The raw effect sizes generated by each study underwent adjustments in order to enhance the reliability of the findings, including the identification and replacement of outliers, and weighting by inverse-sample size. In addition, analyses were conducted to evaluate the degree of publication bias exhibited by this collection of studies and the results from the SCL-90 studies were compared to studies using alternative measures of anxiety and depression. Overall, the synthesis found small, but significant advantages for only children compared to their peers with siblings, regardless of subscale. However, moderators of this only-child effect were also found: only children as college students reported significantly fewer symptoms, regardless of subscale; while only children as military recruits reported more symptoms, although the findings about military recruits received less support from the analyses. Furthermore, the size of the only-child advantage was found to be greater for only children born after the policy. Conclusions based on this synthesis are limited by the fact that this body of studies is based on convenience samples of relatively successful youth.

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“…The one child per family policy employed by Chinese government might have profound effect on this. A study which compared the psychosocial outcomes between Chinese children without siblings and those with siblings found that girls who were the only children in their families had higher scores of depressive symptoms than those with siblings ( Tseng et al, 1988) . It may be argued that the higher number of siblings in the family among the Malawian sample provided an environment where the siblings interacted and provided support to each other to counteract the effects of stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Predictors of Clinically Significant Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese and Malawian Children: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Zgambo¹,

Kalembo²,

Wang

et al. 2014

GJHS

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Background:Multicultural comparative studies have recently increased scientific knowledge base regarding the mental health of diverse populations. This cross-cultural study was cross-sectionally designed to assess differences in the prevalence and predictors of clinically significant depressive symptoms between Chinese and Malawian children.Methods:A total of 478 children (237 Chinese and 241 Malawians) were randomly recruited in the study. The participants completed a Children Depression Inventory in the dimensions of Negative Mood, Interpersonal Problems, Ineffectiveness, Anhedonia, and Negative Self- Esteem. They further provided demographic and family structure information. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression.Results:The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was 16% and 12.4% for Chinese and Malawian study participants, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fighting among siblings (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.1, 95% CI, 3.5–5.9), fighting among children and parents (aOR = 7.7, 95% CI, 4.6–9.8) and living with father only (aOR = 4.1, 95% CI, 3.4–6.7) were significant predictors of clinically significant depressive symptoms among Chinese study participants. On the other hand, clinically significant depressive symptoms were predicted by employment status of a mom only among Malawian study participants (aOR = 3.0, 95% CI, 2.3–5.9).Conclusions:We conclude that diverse cultures affect children’s mental health differently and this cluster of children has a noticeable amount of depressive symptoms that in the least requires further diagnosis and preventive measures.

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Family planning and child mental health in China: the Nanjing Survey

Cited by 48 publications

References 8 publications

When a New Mother Becomes Mentally Unhealthy, It Is Everyone’s Problem: Shanghai Women’s Perceptions of Perinatal Mental Health Problems

When a New Mother Becomes Mentally Unhealthy, It Is Everyone’s Problem: Shanghai Women’s Perceptions of Perinatal Mental Health Problems

China’s only children and psychopathology: A quantitative synthesis.

Prevalence and Predictors of Clinically Significant Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese and Malawian Children: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

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