A comparison of depression, anxiety and related factors in Chinese First-born and Second-born children

Abstract

Abstract Background The status of depression, anxiety and related factors in Chinese firstborn and second-born children have hitherto not been examined and remains unknown. With the changing of China’s fertility policy, it is of greater significance to know about children’s health growth. Methods A convenience sampling and cross-sectional survey method was used. Data was collected from school-based sample in one middle and one primary school located in Xinxiang City, Henan province in China during the period February 18th to March 22nd 2019. There was a total of 653 first-born and 772 second-born children in the surveyed data pool. Depression self-rating scale for children (DSRSC), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Perceived parental rearing patterns scale, Chinese Screen Questionnaire of Child Abuse were used. Results Second-born child was in higher risk to suffer from anxiety when compared with first-born child(P < 0.05). The depression score of female was significantly higher compared to males in the second-born child (P < 0.05). The anxiety score of female was significantly higher compared to males in both the firstborn and second-born children (Ps < 0.05 − 0.01), while the anxiety score of female was significantly higher in the second-born compared to whom in firstborn child (P < 0.05). People who with elder female siblings were of lower depression and anxiety scores than other with male siblings(Ps < 0.05 − 0.01). Age gap was weakly negatively correlated with the depression scores of the first-born children(P < 0.05). The mean scores of severe punishment, excessive interference and overprotection from father were higher in males in both firstborn and second-born children (Ps < 0.001), rejection/denial in firstborn from father were higher in males in second-born child. The mean scores of over interference and over protection from mother were also higher in males in both firstborn and second-born children (Ps < 0.05 − 0.001). Conclusions The second-born children are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, especially in female. The related factors including the age gap, the gender of elder siblings, the parenting styles and the child abuse. It suggested that under China’s fertility policy, more energy needs to be devoted to maintaining children's mental health.