research in pediatric survey Researchers found that rural and urban children and adolescents tend to experience different mental health problems, with children living in rural areas exhibiting more emotional problems and children living in cities exhibiting more behavioral problems.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 19,711 Chinese students between the ages of 6 and 16 (9,566 in urban areas and 10,145 in rural areas). Of these, 3,003 had a mental disorder. Screening was conducted using the Child Behavior Checklist, followed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents and a psychiatrist interview.
The results showed that children and adolescents in rural areas were more likely to experience emotional and psychological problems, especially symptoms related to depression, whereas children and adolescents in urban areas were more likely to exhibit behavioral symptoms, especially symptoms related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
”Regional disparities are highlighted, requiring region-specific interventions to address unique challenges” write the authors.Through informed resource allocation based on observed psychopathology patterns, more effective and comprehensive mental health frameworks can be envisioned across diverse community settings.”
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Reference magazines:
Liang, L. others. (2026). A network analysis of psychological problems among 6- to 16-year-old school-going students in China: A comparison of rural and urban areas. pediatric survey. DOI: 10.1002/ped4.70056. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ped4.70056
