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Effect of Caregiver’s Mental Health on Early Childhood Development across Different Rural Communities in China

Author

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  • Siqi Zhang

    (Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China)

  • Ruirui Dang

    (Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China)

  • Ning Yang

    (Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China)

  • Yu Bai

    (Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China)

  • Lei Wang

    (Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
    International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China)

  • Cody Abbey

    (Rural Education Action Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Scott Rozelle

    (Rural Education Action Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

Previous research has found that there are high rates of developmental delays among infants and toddlers in rural areas of China. Caregiver mental health problems might be one significant predictor of developmental delays among infants and toddlers, as has been found in other areas of the world. One way that the mental health of caregivers could affect early childhood development is through its effect on parenting practices. In this study, we used data from four major subpopulations of rural China to measure the correlation of caregiver mental health problems with the developmental outcomes of infants and toddlers. To do so, the study used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID III) to examine the rates of developmental delays among 2514 rural infants/toddlers aged 6–30 months old. The results of the testing demonstrate that 48% of the sample’s infants/toddlers have cognitive delays; 52% have language delays; 53% have social-emotional delays; and 30% have motor delays. The data collection team also assessed caregiver mental health by using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire. According to the findings, 39% of caregivers in the sample have symptoms of at least one kind of mental health problem (depression, anxiety, or stress). We also found that most caregivers do not engage in positive parenting practices, while a significant share of caregivers engage in negative parenting practices. The statistical analysis found that showing signs of mental health problems is significantly and negatively associated with infant/toddler developmental outcomes. The study also found that caregivers who show signs of mental health problems are significantly less likely to engage in interactive parenting practices. The study confirms that society needs to pay more attention to caregiver mental health problems in order to improve infant/toddler developmental outcomes in rural China and increase human capital accumulation in China as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Siqi Zhang & Ruirui Dang & Ning Yang & Yu Bai & Lei Wang & Cody Abbey & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Effect of Caregiver’s Mental Health on Early Childhood Development across Different Rural Communities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:11:p:2341-:d:177783
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoming Lin & Ruodan Lu & Liang Guo & Bing Liu, 2019. "Social Capital and Mental Health in Rural and Urban China: A Composite Hypothesis Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Wenbin Min & Wei Nie & Shuyi Song & Nan Wang & Weiqi Nie & Lanxi Peng & Zhuo Liu & Jingchun Nie & Jie Yang & Yonghong Ma & Yaojiang Shi, 2020. "Associations between Maternal and Infant Illness and the Risk of Postpartum Depression in Rural China: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Qi Jiang & Xinshu She & Sarah-Eve Dill & Sean Sylvia & Manpreet Kaur Singh & Huan Wang & Matthew Boswell & Scott Rozelle, 2022. "Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Children and Adolescents in Rural China: A Large-Scale Epidemiological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Siqi Zhang & Lei Wang & Yue Xian & Yu Bai, 2020. "Mental Health Issues among Caregivers of Young Children in Rural China: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Links to Child Developmental Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Huan Wang & Claire Cousineau & Yuwei Adeline Hu & Grace Hu & Sunny Qi & Adrian Sun & Helen Wu & Scott Rozelle & Manpreet Singh, 2021. "Examining the Relation between Caregiver Mental Health and Student Outcomes in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Xihong Wu & Gang Cheng & Cai Tang & Qunhui Xie & Simin He & Ruotong Li & Yan Yan, 2020. "The Effect of Parenting Quality on Child Development at 36–48 Months in China’s Urban Area: Evidence from a Birth Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Rui Li & Nathan Rose & Yi Ming Zheng & Yunwei Chen & Sean Sylvia & Henry Wilson-Smith & Alexis Medina & Sarah-Eve Dill & Scott Rozelle, 2021. "Early Childhood Reading in Rural China and Obstacles to Caregiver Investment in Young Children: A Mixed-Methods Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-27, February.
    8. Vibian Angwenyi & Margaret Kabue & Esther Chongwo & Adam Mabrouk & Ezra Kipngetich Too & Rachel Odhiambo & Carophine Nasambu & Joyce Marangu & Derrick Ssewanyana & Eunice Njoroge & Eunice Ombech & Mer, 2021. "Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Young Children in Kenya’s Urban Informal Settlements. A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.
    9. Yu Bai & Reyila Abulitifu & Dan Wang, 2022. "Impact of an Early Childhood Development Intervention on the Mental Health of Female Caregivers: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-30, September.

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