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Is there a protective effect of normal to high intellectual function on mental health in children with chronic

Hilde K Ryland1, Astri J Lundervold1,2, Irene Elgen3

  • 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Uni Health, University of Bergen, John Lunds plass 3, 5020 Bergen, Norway.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
|February 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

High intellectual function protects children

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Intellectual Functioning

Background:

  • High intellectual function is recognized as a protective factor for children's mental health.
  • Limited research exists on the impact of intellectual function on the mental health of children with chronic illnesses (CI).
  • This study investigates whether normal to high intellectual function (IQ) protects children with CI and if this effect differs from children without CI (NCI).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if normal to high intellectual function (IQ) offers a protective effect on mental health in children with chronic illness (CI).
  • To compare the magnitude of this protective effect in children with CI versus children without CI (NCI).

Main Methods:

  • 96 children with CI and 96 children without CI (NCI) from the Bergen Child Study (BCS) were analyzed.
  • Participants were matched based on Full Scale IQ Score (FSIQ) levels: 'very low' (<70), 'low' (70-84), and 'normal to high' (>84), measured by WISC-III.
  • Chronic illness (CI) was parent-reported; mental health was assessed using DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS).

Main Results:

  • Children with normal to high FSIQ had a significantly lower risk of psychiatric diagnosis compared to those with very low or low FSIQ, in both CI and NCI groups.
  • No statistically significant differences were found between the CI and NCI groups across all FSIQ levels.
  • The interaction between group (CI/NCI) and FSIQ level did not significantly impact mental health outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Normal to high intellectual function demonstrates a protective effect on children's mental health.
  • This protective effect is consistent across children with and without chronic illness (CI).
  • Intellectual function plays a significant role in safeguarding mental well-being, irrespective of chronic health status.
Abstract

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