A study in pediatric checkup found that rural and urban children and adolescents experience different mental health problems, with those living in the country showing more emotional problems and those living in the city showing more behavioral problems.
For the study, investigators analyzed data from 19,711 students aged 6–16 years (9,566 urban; 10,145 rural) in China. Of them, 3,003 had mental disorders. Screening was performed using the Child Behavior Checklist, followed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and psychiatrist interview for children and adolescents.
The results indicated that children and adolescents in rural areas were more likely to experience emotional and psychological problems, particularly symptoms related to depression, while children and adolescents in urban areas were more likely to exhibit behavioral symptoms, particularly symptoms associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
“The regional disparity highlighted demands region-specific interventions to address unique challenges,” the authors wrote. “Through informed resource allocation based on observed psychopathology patterns, a more effective and inclusive mental health framework can be envisioned across diverse regional scenarios.“
Source:
Journal Reference:
Liang, L., and others. (2026). Network analysis of psychological problems among school-going students aged 6–16 years in China: A comparison between rural and urban areas. pediatric checkup. doi:10.1002/ped4.70056. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ped4.70056
