Cheryl Hiu-Kwan Chui

The relationship between Internet addiction and depression among migrant children and left-behind children in China.

With greater Internet availability, the pathological use of the Internet has become an emerging mental health issue among adolescents in China. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between Internet addiction and depression in migrant children (MC) and left-behind children (LBC). The present study was conducted using a cross-sectional design with 3,254 participants (8-17-years old), which included 1143 LBC, 574 MC, and 1287 nonleft-behind rural children (RC) from 12 schools. Youngs 8-item Internet Addiction Scale was used to assess Internet dependency. The Childrens Depression Inventory-Short Form was used to measure child depression. The results showed that the prevalence of depression was 10.9 percent among RC, 19.7 percent among MC, and 14.3 percent among LBC. The prevalence of Internet addiction was 3.7 percent among RC, and was 6.4 percent among MC and 3.2 percent among LBC. Depression was effected by the interaction between types of children and Internet addiction. LBC with Internet addiction (odds ratio [OR], 2.780; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.237-6.248), MC with Internet addiction (OR, 2.922; 95 percent CI, 1.116-7.652), and MC with no Internet addiction (OR, 2.735; 95 percent CI, 1.974-3.789) had higher risks of depression than that for RC with no-Internet addiction. The results indicated that Internet addiction might be associated with an increased risk of depression in LBC, and migration was an important risk factor for child depression.

Depression and its risk factors among pregnant women in 2008 Sichuan earthquake area and non-earthquake struck area in China

BACKGROUND On May 12, 2008, a powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Chinas Sichuan province. While some studies have assessed the mental and physical wellbeing of disaster victims, few have examined the long-term impact of natural disasters on pregnant womens mental health. As such, this study aims to assess whether the Sichuan earthquake continues to negatively affect womens mental health, 4 years since its occurrence. In addition, predictive and protective risk factors of depressive symptoms among pregnant women were also identified. METHODS From June 2012 to October 2012, 520 pregnant women were interviewed, of whom 253 were from an earthquake struck area and 267 were from a non-earthquake struck area. Symptoms of antenatal depression were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a cutoff of≥10. RESULTS The prevalence rate of depression among pregnant women in the earthquake area was 34.5% (95% CI, 28.9-40.6), while the rate in the non-earthquake area was 39.6% (95% CI, 33.9-45.5). The perceived stresses associated with pregnancy and social support from husbands are significantly correlated with antenatal depression. LIMITATIONS Lack of diagnosis for antenatal depression and it is a self-report evaluation. CONCLUSIONS This study found that the Sichuan earthquake does not necessarily have a long-lasting effect on pregnant women who were once victims of the disaster. It was found that pregnant women who experience high levels of pressures from the pregnancy and receive medium support from husbands are more susceptible to experience antenatal depression than pregnant women who perceive higher levels of support from husbands.

Subjective well-being amongst migrant children in China: unravelling the roles of social support and identity integration.

BACKGROUND Migrant children refer to rural children who accompany one or both parents to urban area. Empirical evidence showed that compared with their urban counterparts, migrant children had poorer developmental, emotional and psychological health. METHOD A sample of 1306 migrant children were recruited to examine the characteristics of migrant children and investigate the effects of identity integration, support and socioeconomic factors (e.g. age, gender, type of school, family socioeconomic status, city type) on their subjective wellbeing. RESULTS Children with higher levels of identity integration, social support, family socioeconomic status, who attended public school and who lived in the third-tiered city of Weihai demonstrated better subjective wellbeing. Social support remained a strong predictor for subjective wellbeing, despite a significant mediating effect of identity integration. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the need for policymakers and practitioners alike to address individual factors pertaining to psychological adjustments, as well as social determinants of subjective wellbeing in the context of migration.

Predictive factors of depression symptoms among adolescents in the 18-month follow-up after Wenchuan earthquake in China

Abstract Background: It is unclear about the change and risk factors of depression among adolescent survivors after earthquake. Aims: This study aimed to explore the change of depression, and identify the predictive factors of depression among adolescent survivors after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Methods: The depression among high school students at 6, 12 and 18 months after the Wenchuan earthquake were investigated. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used in this study to assess the severity of depression. Results: Subjects included 548 student survivors in an affected high school. The rates of depression among the adolescent survivors at 6-, 12- and 18-month after the earthquake were 27.3%, 42.9% and 33.3%, respectively, for males, and 42.9%, 61.9% and 53.4%, respectively, for females. Depression symptoms, trauma-related self-injury, suicidal ideation and PTSD symptoms at the 6-month follow-up were significant predictive factors for depression at the 18-month time interval following the earthquake. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for considering disaster-related psychological sequela and risk factors of depression symptoms in the planning and implementation of mental health services. Long-term mental and psychological supports for victims of natural disasters are imperative.

The role of international non-governmental organizations in service delivery for orphans and abandoned children in China

This article examines the role of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in social welfare provision in addressing the developmental and material needs of orphans in rural China. Data from qualitative interviews with INGO representatives and state officials were combined with documentary analysis to investigate the ways in which the state and civil society respond to orphans’ needs. It was found that while INGOs are actively contributing to the social provision of orphans, in part reflecting the pluralization of welfare, there is an urgent need for the Chinese government to play a more proactive role in safeguarding the care and protection of one of China’s most vulnerable population groups.

Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns

Hazardous child labor in Nepal is a serious concern, particularly in the brick kiln industry. Although a range of interventions have been implemented in Nepal to address hazardous child labor, there is a lack of research to both measure success and shape further development in interventions that integrate sound child protection practices to ensure the wellbeing of all children. This paper provides a review of the literature outlining interventions for children working in brick kilns in Nepal, and presents preliminary case study findings of one current intervention in the Kathmandu Valley. The paper highlights the strength of applying foundational child protection principles and advocates for the development and implementation of future programs underpinned by broad civil society principles within a child rights and protection framework.

Duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and outcome of people with schizophrenia in rural China: 14-year follow-up study

This study aims to examine the relationship between the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and 14-year outcomes of schizophrenia in a Chinese rural area. Participants with schizophrenia (n = 510) were identified in an epidemiological investigation of 123 572 people aged 15 years and older in 1994 and followed up in 2008 in Xinjin, Chengdu, China. Longer DUP (>6 months) was common in participants (27.3%). In 1994, participants with DUP ≤ 6 months were more likely to have a significantly lower rate of suicide attempts, shorter duration of illness and higher rate of full remission compared with those with DUP > 6 months. No significant differences were found regarding the rates of survival, suicide, death due to other causes and homelessness between individuals with shorter and longer DUP in 2008. Nevertheless, longer DUP (>6 months) of participants in 2008 was significantly associated with higher mean of PANSS total negative and general mental scores, longer duration of illness and higher rate of live alone in the logistic regression model. Earlier identification, treatment and rehabilitation, and family intervention should be addressed when developing mental health policies and delivering community mental health services.

Child welfare NGOs in Hong Kong: Does advocacy work?

This article examined advocacy strategies and barriers of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the child welfare sector in Hong Kong. Drawing on seven case studies, the dynamics between social workers’ role as advocates on one hand, and the need for their organizations to fulfill contractual obligations with the government on the other are revealed. We found that the ambivalent political environment and the subvention system defining existing relationships between the government and NGOs appear to restrict the social work profession’s mandates toward advocacy. Legal reforms that define what is permissible advocacy work by NGOs while protecting their right to do so are urgently needed.

Overcoming methodological challenges in prevalence studies in developing contexts with vulnerable children

Social work research concerns itself with vulnerable populations. Methodological challenges including accessing vulnerable populations are especially acute in developing countries where systematized data is often lacking. This article presents a pilot study using respondent-driven sampling to estimate the prevalence of children engaged in commercial sexual exploitation. The results are used to illustrate the feasibility of developing multi-sectoral collaborations to address issues among vulnerable populations. This study demonstrates that respondent-driven sampling is a strong design capable of producing prevalence estimates. Implications for international social workers in facilitating professional capacity building for effective planning, monitoring and reporting of social development projects are discussed.

Non‐governmental organisations and informal associations in service delivery for African migrants in China: Evidence of voluntary sector failure?

As the Chinese government has purposefully built economic, social and political links with several African states in recent decades, new patterns of international migration have emerged. Notably, mixed‐race families are increasingly visible in southern China, particularly Guangzhou, where there is a concentration of African traders. The few existing studies on this population have failed to pay attention to how, in the absence of state provision of or support for key public resources including health care and education, African‐Chinese families are raising their children. We examined factors contributing to NGO successes and failures in facilitating these families’ wellbeing and integration into mainstream society, drawing on the theory of voluntary sector failure. Mixed‐raced families are relatively isolated from mainstream society as well as formal/informal civil society organisations. We found select features of philanthropic paternalism, philanthropic amateurism, and what we term philanthropic mistrust, with implications for understanding voluntary sector growth in the Chinese context.