Mental health and its influencing factors among left-behind children in South China: a cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Comparison of child mental health (SDQ outcomes) between LBC and NLBC by age groups ^a

Scores of SDQ subscales	LBC	NLBC	P¹	P²
3–16 years	n = 1444	n = 2683
Total difficulties score	12.87 (6.01)	12.26 (6.05)	0.011	0.907
Emotional symptoms	2.79 (2.14)	2.55 (2.19)	0.001	0.482
Conduct problems	2.47 (1.99)	2.45 (1.92)	0.862	0.257
Hyperactivity-inattention	4.12 (2.11)	3.96 (1.99)	0.015	0.620
Peer problems	3.50 (1.65)	3.31 (1.65)	< 0.001	0.809
Prosocial behaviours	5.99 (2.29)	6.17 (2.11)	0.002	0.443
3–6 years	n = 568	n = 1050
Total difficulties score	13.66 (5.91)	12.64 (5.70)	< 0.001	0.924
emotional symptoms	3.01 (2.12)	2.65 (2.10)	0.001	0.827
conduct problems	2.50 (1.96)	2.44 (1.82)	0.548	0.181
hyperactivity-inattention	4.58 (2.08)	4.37 (1.90)	0.052	0.834
peer problems	3.58 (1.69)	3.17 (1.64)	< 0.001	0.246
prosocial behaviours	5.45 (2.35)	5.85 (1.99)	< 0.001	0.141
7–9 years	n = 414	n = 707
Total difficulties score	12.39 (5.84)	11.98 (5.92)	0.256	0.495
Emotional symptoms	2.66 (2.10)	2.42 (2.17)	0.071	0.768
Conduct problems	2.32 (1.99)	2.28 (1.90)	0.773	0.506
Hyperactivity-inattention	4.07 (2.09)	4.09 (1.94)	0.019	0.166
Peer problems	3.34 (1.57)	3.18 (1.64)	0.108	0.716
Prosocial behaviours	6.26 (2.23)	6.17 (2.10)	0.511	0.280
10–16 years	n = 462	n = 926
Total difficulties score	12.32 (6.20)	12.06 (6.52)	0.335	0.753
Emotional symptoms	2.61 (2.18)	2.53 (2.32)	0.504	0.790
Conduct problems	2.55 (2.02)	2.60 (2.03)	0.709	0.879
Hyperactivity-inattention	3.61 (2.05)	3.38 (1.97)	0.038	0.115
Peer problems	3.53 (1.66)	3.56 (1.63)	0.773	0.378
Prosocial behaviours	6.42 (2.15)	6.54 (2.19)	0.488	0.474

Note. LBC left-behind children NLBC non-left-behind children
^a Mental health was assessed by SDQ, which includes five subscales and have been detailed described in method. Date are the mean (SD). P¹ < 0.05 LBC vs. NLBC assessed by independent-samples Student’s t-test; P² < 0.05 LBC vs. NLBC assessed by one-way ANOVA, adjusted place of residence, sex, age, only child, average monthly income, father’s educational level and mother’s educational level

ISSN: 1471-2458