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Social and Relational Health Risks and Common Mental Health Problems Among US Children: The Mitigating Role of Family

Christina D Bethell1, Andrew S Garner2, Narangerel Gombojav1

  • 1Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|November 21, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Nearly 70% of US children with mental, emotional, and behavioral problems face social and relational health risks. Addressing these risks requires community-level public health strategies focusing on family resilience and connection.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Social Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Mental, emotional, and behavioral problems (MEB) affect a significant portion of US children.
  • Children with MEB frequently experience social health risks (SHR) and relational health risks (RHR).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the prevalence of SHR and RHR in US children with MEB.
  • To advocate for a shift in child mental health services towards public health approaches.
  • To emphasize the importance of family resilience and connection in mitigating risks and promoting positive outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of national child health data.
  • Review of current child mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment strategies.
  • Synthesis of public health principles for community-level intervention.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 67.6% of US children with MEB experienced significant SHR and/or RHR.
  • Current approaches to child mental health are insufficient to address these risks comprehensively.

Conclusions:

  • Public health strategies engaging families, youth, and professionals are crucial for preventing and mitigating SHR and RHR.
  • Strengthening family resilience and connection can improve social outcomes for all children, including those with and without MEB.

Keywords:
Economic hardshipFamily resilienceFood insecurityNeighborhood violenceParent mental healthParental stressRacial discriminationRelational health

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