Tyrone M Parchment1, Latoya Small1, Hadiza Osuji2, Mary McKay1, Arvin Bhana3. 1. McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 41 East 11th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10003, USA; New York University Silver School of Social Work, New York, USA. 2. McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 41 East 11th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10003, USA. 3. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Africa.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The mental health of children is too frequently overlooked in resource scarce low and middle-income countries. South Africa represents one of many country contexts struggling to meet the mental health needs of large numbers of young people. Family caregivers have been identified as potential protective influences on child mental health, even for those children being reared with high exposure to poverty. METHODS: This paper explores contextual influences on South African caregiver's social-emotional health living in communities impacted by poverty and food insecurity as they attempt to support their children's prosocial skills and behavior. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to explore the relationship between neighborhood social cohesion and caregiver report of child's prosocial behavior as mediated by the caregiver's mental health (n=478). RESULTS: Results indicated that the more caregivers experience their communities as socially cohesive, the better their social-emotional well-being, thus positively related to their reports of children's prosocial behavior. Furthermore, when there is a male head of household, caregivers reported better social-emotional well-being in comparison to female headed of household. The more food secure caregivers also were likely to report better general health. CONCLUSION: South African community characteristics and caregivers, in particular male caregivers, are integral to child and caregiver mental health. Future research should examine the impact of interventions that mobilize community and caregiver supports for children's prosocial behavior and mental health.
BACKGROUND: The mental health of children is too frequently overlooked in resource scarce low and middle-income countries. South Africa represents one of many country contexts struggling to meet the mental health needs of large numbers of young people. Family caregivers have been identified as potential protective influences on child mental health, even for those children being reared with high exposure to poverty. METHODS: This paper explores contextual influences on South African caregiver's social-emotional health living in communities impacted by poverty and food insecurity as they attempt to support their children's prosocial skills and behavior. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to explore the relationship between neighborhood social cohesion and caregiver report of child's prosocial behavior as mediated by the caregiver's mental health (n=478). RESULTS: Results indicated that the more caregivers experience their communities as socially cohesive, the better their social-emotional well-being, thus positively related to their reports of children's prosocial behavior. Furthermore, when there is a male head of household, caregivers reported better social-emotional well-being in comparison to female headed of household. The more food secure caregivers also were likely to report better general health. CONCLUSION: South African community characteristics and caregivers, in particular male caregivers, are integral to child and caregiver mental health. Future research should examine the impact of interventions that mobilize community and caregiver supports for children's prosocial behavior and mental health.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adult protective factor; Caregivers; Child mental health; Food security; Malecaregivers; South Africa
Authors: Susan P Walker; Theodore D Wachs; Julie Meeks Gardner; Betsy Lozoff; Gail A Wasserman; Ernesto Pollitt; Julie A Carter Journal: Lancet Date: 2007-01-13 Impact factor: 79.321