Bahr Weiss1, Hoang-Minh Dang2, Trung T Lam3, Minh C Nguyen2. 1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. bahr.weiss@vanderbilt.edu. 2. University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam. 3. Danang Psychiatric Hospital, Danang, Vietnam.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Urbanization is linked to increased health risks, including mental health. However, the large majority of this research has been conducted in high-income countries, and little is known about effects in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) where urbanization is occurring most frequently and most rapidly. Within global mental health, children and adolescents are a critical but understudied population. The present study assessed relations between urbanization factors, and child mental health in Vietnam, a Southeast Asian LMIC. METHODS: Most studies investigating urbanization and mental health have used geographically based dichotomous urban vs. rural variables. Because of significant limitations with this approach, the present study assessed parent-reported urbanization factors (e.g., pollution, crime). In Sub-study #1 (cross-sectional), 1314 parents from 10 Vietnam provinces completed the Urbanization Factors Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist (mental health), and Brief Impairment Scale (life functioning). In Sub-study #2 (longitudinal), 256 parents from one highly urban and one highly rural province completed the same measures, at three timepoints across 12 months. RESULTS: Cross-sectional canonical correlations identified relatively small (e.g., R2 = 0.08) but significant relations between urbanization factors, and child functioning. Parallel analyses using a geographically defined urban vs. rural variable did not produce significant results. The large majority of longitudinal relations between the different urbanization factors and child functioning were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study, among the first to assess urbanization as a multi-dimensional continuous construct in relation to child psychopathology, highlights the value of the use of an urbanization factors approach. A new "urbanization factors differentials" theory is proposed to suggest how effects of urbanization factors might result in global health disparities.
PURPOSE: Urbanization is linked to increased health risks, including mental health. However, the large majority of this research has been conducted in high-income countries, and little is known about effects in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) where urbanization is occurring most frequently and most rapidly. Within global mental health, children and adolescents are a critical but understudied population. The present study assessed relations between urbanization factors, and child mental health in Vietnam, a Southeast Asian LMIC. METHODS: Most studies investigating urbanization and mental health have used geographically based dichotomous urban vs. rural variables. Because of significant limitations with this approach, the present study assessed parent-reported urbanization factors (e.g., pollution, crime). In Sub-study #1 (cross-sectional), 1314 parents from 10 Vietnam provinces completed the Urbanization Factors Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist (mental health), and Brief Impairment Scale (life functioning). In Sub-study #2 (longitudinal), 256 parents from one highly urban and one highly rural province completed the same measures, at three timepoints across 12 months. RESULTS: Cross-sectional canonical correlations identified relatively small (e.g., R2 = 0.08) but significant relations between urbanization factors, and child functioning. Parallel analyses using a geographically defined urban vs. rural variable did not produce significant results. The large majority of longitudinal relations between the different urbanization factors and child functioning were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study, among the first to assess urbanization as a multi-dimensional continuous construct in relation to child psychopathology, highlights the value of the use of an urbanization factors approach. A new "urbanization factors differentials" theory is proposed to suggest how effects of urbanization factors might result in global health disparities.
Entities:
Keywords:
Child and adolescent mental health; Global health; LMIC; Urbanization; Vietnam
Authors: Leslie Rescorla; Masha Y Ivanova; Thomas M Achenbach; Ivan Begovac; Myriam Chahed; May Britt Drugli; Deisy Ribas Emerich; Daniel S S Fung; Mariam Haider; Kjell Hansson; Nohelia Hewitt; Stefanny Jaimes; Bo Larsson; Alfio Maggiolini; Jasminka Marković; Dragan Mitrović; Paulo Moreira; João Tiago Oliveira; Martin Olsson; Yoon Phaik Ooi; Djaouida Petot; Cecilia Pisa; Rolando Pomalima; Marina Monzani da Rocha; Vlasta Rudan; Slobodan Sekulić; Mimoza Shahini; Edwiges Ferreira de Mattos Silvares; Lajos Szirovicza; José Valverde; Luis Anderssen Vera; Maria Clara Villa; Laura Viola; Bernardine S C Woo; Eugene Yuqing Zhang Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2012-11-08 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Bahr Weiss; Victoria Khanh Ngo; Hoang-Minh Dang; Amie Pollack; Lam T Trung; Cong V Tran; Nam T Tran; David Sang; Khanh N Do Journal: Int Perspect Psychol Date: 2012-01
Authors: Ellen Generaal; Erik J Timmermans; Jasper E C Dekkers; Johannes H Smit; Brenda W J H Penninx Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2018-03-15 Impact factor: 7.723