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Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Children and Adolescents in Rural China: A Large-Scale Epidemiological Study

Author

Listed:
  • Qi Jiang

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Xinshu She

    (School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Sarah-Eve Dill

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Sean Sylvia

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • Manpreet Kaur Singh

    (School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    Stanford Pediatric Mood Disorders Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Huan Wang

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Matthew Boswell

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Scott Rozelle

    (Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

Although children living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 90% of the global population of children, depression, and anxiety among children in LMICs have been understudied. This study examines the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their associations with biological and psychosocial factors among children across China, with a focus on rural areas. We conducted a large-scale epidemiological study of depression and anxiety among 53,421 elementary and junior high school-aged children across China. The results show that 20% are at risk for depression, 6% are at risk for generalized anxiety, and 68% are at risk for at least one type of anxiety. Girls and junior high school students show a higher risk for both depression and anxiety symptoms, while socioeconomic status has varying associations to depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results also show consistent correlations between depression and anxiety symptoms and standard math test scores. These findings underscore the importance of identification, prevention, and treatment of youth depression and anxiety in underdeveloped areas. As China constitutes 15% of the global population of children under age 18, this study offers valuable information to the field of global mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5026-:d:798365
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hongyan Liu & Yaojiang Shi & Emma Auden & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Anxiety in Rural Chinese Children and Adolescents: Comparisons across Provinces and among Subgroups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Mi Zhou & Guangsheng Zhang & Scott Rozelle & Kaleigh Kenny & Hao Xue, 2018. "Depressive Symptoms of Chinese Children: Prevalence and Correlated Factors among Subgroups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-10, February.
    3. 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.
    4. Hongyu Guan & Huan Wang & Kang Du & Jin Zhao & Matthew Boswell & Yaojiang Shi & Yiwei Qian, 2018. "The Effect of Providing Free Eyeglasses on Children’s Mental Health Outcomes in China: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Wang, Huan & Yang, Chu & He, Fei & Shi, Yaojiang & Qu, Qinghe & Rozelle, Scott & Chu, James, 2015. "Mental health and dropout behavior: A cross-sectional study of junior high students in northwest rural China," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-12.
    6. Zhu, Nong, 2002. "The impacts of income gaps on migration decisions in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2-3), pages 213-230.
    7. Zhao, Qiran & Wang, Xiaobing & Rozelle, Scott, 2019. "Better cognition, better school performance? Evidence from primary schools in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 199-217.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lili Li & Cody Abbey & Huan Wang & Annli Zhu & Terry Shao & Daisy Dai & Songqing Jin & Scott Rozelle, 2022. "The Association between Video Game Time and Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Mingna Li & Bo Zhou & Bingbin Hu, 2022. "Relationship between Income and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.

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