SELECTED FACTORS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN ACEH PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Abstract

Aceh is one of provinces in Indonesia which indicated highest prevalence of mental health problems in adult population, but little is known about mental health problems (MHP) in school-aged children, whereas the problems are being concerned in Indonesia. The purposes of the study were 1) to describe mental health problems and each dimensions in school-aged children and 2) to investigate relationship of selected factors, i.e. gender, age, academic competence, social competence, family income, family environment-relationship dimension, maternal parenting stress, maternal parenting behavior, and maternal depression with MHP in school-aged children with MHP in Aceh province, Indonesia. A total 143 school-aged children with mental health problems from nine selected elementary schools in three sub-districts and their mothers were recruited based on inclusion criteria. The research instruments included SDQ, the Demographic questionnaire, Social Competence Questionnaire (SCQ), The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS), Parental Stress Scale (PSS), Parent’s Report on parenting behavior (PR), and Beck Depression Index II (BDI-II). Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation were used to analyse descriptive data and to test the relationship among variables. Findings revealed that: 1) mothers rated MHP in their children at an abnormal level (x= 17.66 SD = .978), and children experienced emotional symptoms (37.8 percent) more than other dimensions, then, hyperactivity, conduct problem, and peer problem (27.3, 18.9 and 16.1 percent), respectively. 2) Academic competence, family environment-relationship dimension had negative relationship, whereas, maternal parenting stress had positive relationship with MHP at low level (r = -.177, -.176, r = .173, p < .05) respectively. Considering each dimension, age had negative relationship with peer problem at a low level (r = -.162, p < .05). Maternal parenting behavior had negative relationship with emotional symptoms (r = -.287, p < .05) and had positive relationship with conduct problem and hyperactivity at a low level (r = .162, r = 143, p < .05) respectively. Meanwhile, maternal depression had positive relationship with emotional symptoms and negative relationship with hyperactivity at a low level (r = .236, r = -.158, p < .05) respectively. These findings demonstrated that child psychiatric mental health nurses should give special attention to assist young school-aged children with MHP in the aspect of emotional symptoms, and conduct problem. Moreover, nurses should aim to improve family relationship and reduce maternal parenting stress and maternal depression.