Affiliation:
1. College of Social Work, University of Tennessee,
2. George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Institute of Public Policy Studies
3. Center for Mental Health Policy, Vanderbilt Institute
of Public Policy Studies, Vanderbilt University
Abstract
Both mental and physical health problems have significant, costly effects on children and on society, particularly through the health-care delivery system. Many years of research show more mental health problems among children with chronic health conditions, but the research is contradictory and inconclusive. This study is the first to examine the physical health status and problems of children with known mental health problems.The study compares Medicaid children with and without serious mental health problems ( n = 965) using parent reports of global health status, physical functioning, and general health perceptions. Children with more serious mental health problems were significantly more likely to have chronic health conditions.The number of chronic health conditions was the most powerful variable in predicting children's global health status, physical functioning, and general health perceptions. Children's mental health status, however, was a significant predictor as well, and the inclusion of this variable in the analyses significantly improved the fit of the regression model. Implications for the health-care delivery system are discussed.
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Clinical Psychology,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Education
Cited by
35 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献