Collaborative ECHO research led by Julia Schuchard, PhD of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia studied the association between chronic physical or mental health conditions and children’s assessment of their own well-being, also referred to as positive health. The findings show that many children and adolescents with chronic health conditions have similar levels of positive health as their peers without chronic conditions. The team’s research, titled “Influences of chronic physical and mental health conditions on child and adolescent positive health,” is published in Academic Pediatrics.
For this study, researchers gathered 1,764 children aged 8 to 17 from 13 ECHO cohorts across the U.S. and asked them about their physical, mental, and social health and life satisfaction. The children’s parents also provided information on their child’s chronic health conditions, including physical (e.g., asthma, chronic pain, motor problems), developmental (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, learning disabilities), and mental (e.g., depression, anxiety) health conditions. Around 54% of children participating in the study had some form of chronic health condition.
The results of this study suggest that mental health conditions such as depression in childhood may be a primary driver of decreased well-being and life satisfaction among children with chronic health conditions. “The symptoms of physical health conditions and developmental disorders may last for years or even a lifetime,” said Dr. Schuchard, “but it is possible that negative effects on life satisfaction could be minimized by preventing and treating mental health problems.”
More research is needed to identify the best mental health interventions for improving positive health outcomes among children with chronic health conditions. Effective interventions may include increasing the availability of mental health assessments and screening children and adolescents with chronic health conditions for depression more frequently.
“Examining the effects of interventions like these on positive health outcomes has the potential to shift perspectives around health” said Dr. Schuchard, “highlighting the importance of promoting children’s mental health and well-being.”