Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Are children and adolescents in foster care at greater risk of mental health problems than their counterparts? A meta-analysis
- Authors:
- DUBOIS-COMTOIS Karine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 127, 2021, p.106100.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This meta-analysis aims at comparing mental health problems of children in foster care to those living with their biological parents while taking in consideration different protective and risk factors. Across 41 studies with a total of 72 independent effect sizes, a significant but small effect size was found between foster care placement and psychopathology (d = 0.19). Children in foster care showed higher levels of psychopathology compared to those from community samples or matched/at-risk samples. They were as likely to show mental health problems as maltreated children living with their biological parents or children from clinical samples. Results showed that foster children’s mental health problems also varied as a function of type of placement and study methodological characteristics. Being placed in kinship care, longer stay in the same foster home and fewer placement disruptions, all acted as protective factors limiting mental health problems of children in foster care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Disentangling the mental health impact of childhood abuse and neglect
- Authors:
- CECIL Charlotte A.M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 63, 2016, p.106–119.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
It is unclear whether maltreatment types exert common or specific effects on mental health. In the current study, the authors aimed to systematically characterise the unique, shared and cumulative effects of maltreatment types on psychiatric symptoms, using data drawn from a community sample of high-risk youth (n = 204, M = 18.85). Analyses controlled for a range of potentially confounding variables, including socio-demographic variables, neighbourhood deprivation and levels of community violence exposure. Outcome measures included multi-informant reports of internalising difficulties, as well as data on externalising problems and trauma-related symptoms. The authors found that (i) consistent with previous studies, maltreatment types were highly interrelated and frequently co-occurred; (ii) symptom severity linearly increased with the number of maltreatment types experienced (more so for self-report vs informant ratings); and (iii) while most forms of maltreatment were significantly associated with mental health outcomes when examined individually, few unique effects were observed when modelling maltreatment types simultaneously, pointing to an important role of shared variance in driving maltreatment effects on mental health. Emotional abuse emerged as the main independent predictor of psychiatric symptomatology – over and above other maltreatment types – and this effect was comparable for males and females (i.e. no significant interaction with sex). Findings contribute to a better understanding of heterogeneity in individual responses to maltreatment. (Edited publisher abstract)
No words for her trauma
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 04.08.05, 2005, pp.40-41.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A teenage girl's behaviour points to abuse from a very young age. The panel provide commentary on a case where a teenage girl, whose mother has a drug dependency, is displaying challenging and aggressive behaviour.
Spirit of inquiry
- Authors:
- STANLEY Nicky, MANTHORPE Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 21.10.04, 2004, pp.38-39.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Looks at the potential and pitfalls of inquiries and argues that they have much to contribute to learning, but that this is not always realised. Argues that reform of inquiries should build on this and also make the most of the capacity of inquiries to learn from each other.
Childhood trauma, the brain and social work: a short guide about the importance of social relationships for mental health
- Author:
- MCCRORY Eamon
- Publisher:
- UK Trauma Council
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 24
- Place of publication:
- London
This short guide about childhood trauma aims to share some of the latest research findings with those who are working every day to support children who have experienced complex trauma in the form of maltreatment. It unpacks in some detail how brain changes can affect a child's social world, and why this is important in helping us understand the mental health of children and young people who have experienced maltreatment. Supportive social relationships are key to good mental health for everyone. To understand why maltreatment increases a child's risk of later mental health problems, it is important that we consider how such experiences can affect social relationships. Understanding how past maltreatment affects a child's current and future social world can help us develop more effective ways for a child to build and maintain supportive social relationships. This can ultimately reduce the risk of mental health problems developing. The guide considers how adults and systems can help build and scaffold a better social world for children. Social workers, foster carers, adoptive parents and teachers can all play a role, as can policy makers, funders and commissioners. (Edited publisher abstract)
Post-lockdown children in crisis: exploring the links between social distancing and the mental health of children in poverty
- Authors:
- McNAIR Riley, BANHAM Phoebe
- Publisher:
- The Childhood Trust
- Publication year:
- 2021
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- London
This report investigates the ways in which long-term social distancing measures have affected and may continue to affect children’s mental health, wellbeing, and development. It ultimately finds that restrictions on social contact have significantly increased mental health issues among vulnerable children and young people in London over the past year and have contributed to clinically significant levels of heightened anxiety and depression amongst a random sample of 68 children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Key findings include: incidence of mental health issues were two times higher in a sample of disadvantaged children in London (33%) compared to children across England (16%); 82% of charity respondents reported that their beneficiaries were experiencing serious mental health issues as a direct result of lockdown measures; heightened anxiety (88%) and depression (79%) were the most common mental health symptoms experienced by disadvantaged children and young people according to the charities surveyed; incidence of clinical anxiety and depression were 23% higher in a random sample of disadvantaged girls in London aged 15-18 (50%) compared to teenage girls across England (27.2%); the average total anxiety and depression score for boys aged 12-14 evaluated was approximately 30% higher than the mean score for unreferred boys in that age group; charities (41%) supporting approximately 35,215 disadvantaged children in London reported that their beneficiaries experienced greater abuse in home settings during lockdowns; 77% of charity respondents indicated that a lack of social interaction and in-person play time are still compromising their beneficiaries’ mental health post-lockdown; 80% of charity respondents reported that social distancing and lockdown measures have made it challenging for children to exercise and maintain their physical health; 75% of charity respondents reported that their beneficiaries are still experiencing food insecurity, even though children have returned to school and can access more substantial meals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Childhood emotional maltreatment and mental disorders: results from a nationally representative adult sample from the United States
- Authors:
- TAILLIEU Tamara L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 59, 2016, pp.1-12.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Child maltreatment is a public health concern with well-established sequelae. However, compared to research on physical and sexual abuse, far less is known about the long-term impact of emotional maltreatment on mental health. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the association of emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and both emotional abuse and neglect with other types of child maltreatment, a family history of dysfunction, and lifetime diagnoses of several Axis I and Axis II mental disorders. Data were from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected in 2004 and 2005 (n = 34,653). The most prevalent form of emotional maltreatment was emotional neglect only (6.2%), followed by emotional abuse only (4.8%), and then both emotional abuse and neglect (3.1%). All categories of emotional maltreatment were strongly related to other forms of child maltreatment (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 2.1 to 68.0) and a history of family dysfunction (ORs ranged from 2.2 to 8.3). In models adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, all categories of emotional maltreatment were associated with increased odds of almost every mental disorder assessed in this study (adjusted ORs ranged from 1.2 to 7.4). Many relationships remained significant independent of experiencing other forms of child maltreatment and a family history of dysfunction (adjusted ORs ranged from 1.2 to 3.0). The effects appeared to be greater for active (i.e., emotional abuse) relative to passive (i.e., emotional neglect) forms of emotional maltreatment. Childhood emotional maltreatment, particularly emotionally abusive acts, is associated with increased odds of lifetime diagnoses of several Axis I and Axis II mental disorders. (Publisher abstract)
Child abuse and neglect in the UK today
- Authors:
- RADFORD Lorraine, et al
- Publisher:
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 203p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents new research findings from the NSPCC on child maltreatment in the United Kingdom. The research aimed to provide up to date information on the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment, and to compare rates of childhood experiences reported by young adults interviewed in 2009 with rates reported in an earlier NSPCC study in 1998-9. The study looked at children’s and young adults’ experiences of childhood maltreatment at home, in school and in the community. This first report presents the findings from this research on the prevalence, impact and severity of child maltreatment. The study involved interviews with a random probability sample of parents, young people and young adults about their experiences of child abuse and neglect. The sample consisted of: 2,160 parents or guardians of children aged under 11 years; 2,275 young people aged 11-17 years with additional information from their parents or guardians; and 1,761 young adults aged 18-24 years. The findings show that the rates of child maltreatment reported by young adults aged 18–24 are lower in 2009 than in 1998. However, significant minorities of children and young people in the UK today are experiencing severe maltreatment and this is associated with poorer emotional wellbeing, self-harm, suicidal ideation and delinquent behaviour.
Family relationships in childhood and common psychiatric disorders in later life: systematic review of prospective studies
- Authors:
- WEICH Scott, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 194(5), May 2009, pp.392-398.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Most evidence for associations between childhood adversity and adult mental illness is retrospective. To evaluate prospective evidence of associations between poor parent–child relationships and common psychiatric disorders in later life. Systematic review of studies published between 1970 and 2008 including: (a) more than 100 participants; (b) measures of relationships in the home during childhood; (c) at least 10 years between assessment of exposures; and (d) measures of anxiety, depression, suicide, suicidal ideation or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Analysis was by narrative synthesis. Twenty-three papers were identified reporting data from 16 cohorts. Abusive relationships predicted depression, anxiety and PTSD. Maternal emotional unavailability in early life predicted suicide attempts in adolescence. Results of studies investigating less severe relationship problems were suggestive but not conclusive of causal association, due partly to methodological heterogeneity. Given the prevalence and disabling nature of common psychiatric problems, these studies highlight the need to minimise harm associated with dysfunctional parent–child relationships.
Helping a 'lost child' regain self-worth
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 16.8.07, 2007, pp.22-23.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
After a catastrophic early history of neglect and abuse, a child is then pushed over the edge by the death of his only sibling, and then placed in secure psychiatric care. A practice panel give their views on how to handle the case.