Mental Distress of Children in Kirogi Families. |
Sung Hee Shin, Heeseung Choi, Mi Ja Kim |
1College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. 2East-West Nursing Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. 3College of Nursing, The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. hchoi20@snu.ac.kr 4College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA. |
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Abstract |
PURPOSE The specific aims of the present study were to compare Kirogi children's mental distress and psychosocial factors between short-term (ST) and long-term groups (LT), and to identify predictors of mental distress in the two groups. METHODS: A sample of 107 Kirogi children living in the U.S. participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the following questionnaires: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Somatic Symptom Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Parent-Child (P-C) Relationship Satisfaction Scale, Parent-Adolescent Communication Inventory Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Scale, and Social Support Scale. RESULTS: The LT group reported higher scores on depression and anxiety, and lower scores on self-esteem and P-C relationship than the ST group. Higher scores on somatic symptoms were found in the ST group. Problematic mother-child communication and dissatisfaction with father-child relationship were significant predictors for mental distress. Self-esteem predicted depression and anxiety in the ST group; particularly self-esteem was a significant predictor for anxiety in both groups. Discrimination and process-oriented stress were significant predictors for depression and anxiety in the ST group. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study reveal the needs for school-based mental health programs for the increasing number of Kirogi children vulnerable to mental distress. |
Key Words:
Adolescent; Anxiety disorders; Depression; Parent-child relations |
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