The prevalence of depressive symptoms in 'left-behind children' in China: a meta-analysis of comparative studies and epidemiological surveys

Yuan-Yuan Wang; Le Xiao; Wen-Wang Rao; Jing-Xin Chai; Shu-Fang Zhang; Chee H Ng; Gabor S Ungvari; Huiping Zhu; Yu-Tao Xiang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.066

The prevalence of depressive symptoms in 'left-behind children' in China: a meta-analysis of comparative studies and epidemiological surveys

J Affect Disord. 2019 Feb 1:244:209-216. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.066. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Authors

Yuan-Yuan Wang¹, Le Xiao², Wen-Wang Rao³, Jing-Xin Chai⁴, Shu-Fang Zhang⁵, Chee H Ng⁶, Gabor S Ungvari⁷, Huiping Zhu⁸, Yu-Tao Xiang⁹

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom.
² The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, China & Center of Depression, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders & Mood Disorders Center, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
³ Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China.
⁴ Beijing Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China; Beijing Centers for Disease Preventive Medical Research, Beijing, China.
⁵ Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei province, China; City University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. Electronic address: wuhanzsf@126.com.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ University of Notre Dame Australia / Graylands Hospital, Perth, Australia; Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia Medical School, Perth, Australia.
⁸ School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
⁹ Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. Electronic address: xyutly@gmail.com.

PMID: 30359816
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.066

Abstract

Background: Depressive symptoms are common in 'left-behind children (LBC)' in China, but their prevalence estimates have been inconsistent. This comprehensive meta-analysis examined the pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms in LBC in China and its associated factors.

Methods: Two investigators systematically and independently searched both English (PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE) and Chinese (WanFang Database, CNKI, and SinoMed) databases. Comparative and epidemiological studies reporting the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated relevant information were included. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was pooled using the random-effects model.

Results: A total of 39 studies covering 31,663 LBC and 20,049 non-LBC controls were included in the meta-analysis. The figures of pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms in LBC and non-LBC were 30.7% and 22.8%, respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the use of different scales was significantly associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Compared with non-LBC, LBC were more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.4-1.9).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirmed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms in LBC is common in China. In order to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in this vulnerable segment of the population, the development of screening and therapeutic interventions is urgently needed.

Keywords: China; Depressive symptoms; Left-behind children; Meta-analysis.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Abandoned / psychology*
China / epidemiology
Databases, Factual
Depression / epidemiology*
Emigration and Immigration*
Epidemiologic Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires