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Mental disorders in former street-working boys
Nezar Ismet Taib1, Hans Arinell2,3, Caisa Öster3
1Department of Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden. nezar.tahib@neuro.uu.se.
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|August 19, 2023
Summary
Mental disorders persist from childhood to adulthood in street-working boys, with anxiety disorders showing recurrence. The number of childhood disorders predicted adult mental health outcomes more than trauma or other risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Global Mental Health
Background:
- Continuity of mental disorders in street-working children is understudied.
- Street-working children face significant mental health challenges.
- Longitudinal data on mental disorder trajectories in this population are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate homotypic and heterotypic continuity of mental disorders from childhood to adulthood in street-working boys.
- To assess the prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders at two time points.
- To identify predictors of adult mental disorder status.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 40 street-working boys in Duhok City, Iraq.
- Structured diagnostic interviews conducted in childhood (mean age 12.1) and adulthood (mean age 29.7).
- Assessment of mental disorders, comorbidity, childhood traumas, and psychosocial risk factors.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of mental disorders at baseline (60%) and follow-up (70%).
- Comorbidity increased significantly from childhood to adulthood.
- Anxiety disorders showed homotypic continuity; depressive disorders increased, externalizing disorders decreased.
- Number of childhood mental disorders predicted adult disorders, independent of trauma or other risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Mental disorders are persistent and often comorbid in street-working males.
- Childhood mental disorder burden is a key predictor of adult mental health.
- Further research with larger, diverse samples is needed to understand gender differences and risk factors.
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