Association between Neighborhood Conditions and Mental Disorders among Children in the US: Evidence from the National Survey of Children's Health 2011/12.

Abstract

Background: This study examines the association between mental disorders and neighborhood conditions in a nationally representative sample of US children.

Methods: Data from US children aged 6-17 years (N = 95,677) were obtained from the 2011/12 National Survey of Children's Health. Analysis examined neighborhood conditions and demographic and psychosocial characteristics including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), parental mental health status, and the associations with any current diagnosed mental disorders (ACDMD). ACDMD was a composite variable derived from four childhood mental disorders examined. We computed descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.

Results: Approximately 14% children had ACDMD. Of the neighborhood factors examined, nonsupportive neighborhood (AOR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.71) was significantly associated with ACDMD in the multivariable models. Similarly, mother's mental health (AOR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.39, 2.43) and ACEs (e.g., AOR for 5-9 ACEs 6.36, 95% CI: 4.67, 8.65) were also found to be strongly associated with mental disorders.

Conclusion: Our findings show that parental poor mental health, living in a nonsupportive neighborhood, and ACEs were important risk factors for child mental disorders. While more research is needed, children who have had early trauma and who reside with parents and caretakers with poor mental health are in need of additional services and treatment.