Original
Care Under Strain: Caregiver Mental Health and Early Childhood Development in Rural China
Abstract
Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2024 and 2025 in a relatively well-off rural area of China, this study examines the mental health of primary caregivers of young children and its correlates. The quantitative data show high prevalence of cognitive (40%), language (42%), and motor (20%) developmental delays among the children. Caregiver mental health problems may be one possible contributing factor given that approximately 17% of caregivers exhibit at least one mental health issue (i.e. stress, anxiety, or depression). The qualitative analysis identifies several risk factors of caregiver mental health problems: limited awareness of mental health concepts; heavy burden of caregiving; insufficient public services; and a lack of awareness of caregiver mental health’s impact on child development.
中文
压力下的照护：中国农村照护者心理健康与儿童早期发展
摘要
本研究基于2024年和2025年在中国一个相对富裕的农村地区收集的定量和定性数据，考察幼儿主要照护者的心理健康及其相关因素。定量数据显示，儿童中认知（40%）、语言（42%）和运动（20%）发育迟缓的发生率较高。鉴于约17%的照护者至少存在一种心理健康问题（即压力、焦虑或抑郁），照护者心理健康问题可能是一个潜在促成因素。定性分析识别出照护者心理健康问题的若干风险因素：对心理健康概念的认识有限；照护负担沉重；公共服务不足；以及对照护者心理健康影响儿童发展的认识缺乏。
关键词
照护者心理健康、儿童早期发展、中国农村、发育迟缓、照护负担、公共服务、风险因素