Estimating the number of children exposed to parental psychiatric disorders through a national health survey
2009

Estimating the Number of Children Exposed to Parental Psychiatric Disorders

Sample size: 570000 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Bassani Diego G, Padoin Cintia V, Philipp Diane, Veldhuizen Scott

Primary Institution: Centre for Global Health Research, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

Hypothesis

How many children are exposed to parental psychiatric disorders in Canada?

Conclusion

A significant number of children are exposed to parental psychiatric disorders, which raises concerns for their future mental health.

Supporting Evidence

  • 12.1% of Canadian children under 12 are exposed to parental psychiatric disorders.
  • 78.5% of these children have parents who did not receive mental health care in the past year.
  • 17% of exposed children live in single-parent households.

Takeaway

Many kids have parents with mental health issues, which can make it harder for them to grow up happy and healthy.

Methodology

The study used national survey data to estimate the number of children under 12 living with parents who have psychiatric disorders.

Potential Biases

The survey may miss individuals who are homeless or hospitalized, leading to potential underestimation.

Limitations

The study may underestimate the number of children exposed due to not including all psychiatric disorders and only surveying one adult per household.

Participant Demographics

The study focused on children under 12 years old in Canada.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1753-2000-3-6

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