Does social capital aid in leveling the income gradient in child mental health? A structural analysis of the left-behind and not-left-behind Chinese children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few prior studies have investigated the income gradient in child mental health from a socio-environmental perspective. In an age when child mental health problems in a rapidly changing social environment have become a worldwide issue, an understanding of the socio-environmental mechanisms of the income disparities in child mental health outcomes is imperative and cost-effective.

Methods

By conducting structural equation analyses with Chinese nationally representative survey data, this study explored the family income gradient in child depression and its potential socio-environmental pathways at the neighborhood, family and school levels, differentiating left-behind and not-left-behind children.

Results

We found a robust family income gradient in depressive

SUBMITTER: Gu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10360305 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature