Mental health status among children and adolescents in one-child and multichild families: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Curr Opin Psychiatry

Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, & Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.

Published: May 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the mental health status of children and adolescents from one-child versus multichild families in China, involving 113 studies with nearly 238,000 participants.
  • Results show that children from one-child families scored better on various mental health indicators, including lower levels of anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity.
  • The study suggests the need for further research to understand the reasons behind these mental health differences and explore interventions for those affected.

Article Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Controversy remains about the difference in mental health status among children and adolescents between one-child and multichild families in China. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing mental health status between both groups and explored their potential moderating factors.

Recent Findings: Totally, 113 eligible studies encompassing 237 899 participants (one-child families: 83 125; multichild families: 154 774) were included. The pooled SMD of SCL-90 total score was -0.115 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): -0.152; -0.078; I2  = 86.9%]. Specifically, children and adolescents from one-child families exhibited lower scores in terms of somatization (SMD = -0.056; 95% CI: -0.087; -0.026), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (SMD = -0.116; 95% CI: -0.154; -0.079), interpersonal sensitivity (SMD = -0.140; 95% CI: -0.171; -0.109), depression (SMD = -0.123; 95% CI: -0.159; -0.088); anxiety (SMD = -0.121; 95% CI: -0.151; -0.092); phobic anxiety (SMD = -0.124; 95% CI: -0.166; -0.081); paranoid ideation (SMD = -0.040; 95% CI: -0.070; -0.009); and psychoticism (SMD = -0.119; 95% CI: -0.148; -0.089). Study publication year was significantly associated with differences in mental health status between both groups ( P  = 0.015).

Summary: Children and adolescents from one-child families had better mental health status compared to those from multichild families in China. Future studies should investigate the underlying factors contributing to such mental health differences, and the potential interventions that could address these mental health problems.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0000000000000935DOI Listing

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