International Journal of Child Development and Mental Health

Adolescent Mental Health: Importance and Contributing Factors

Siraluck Puttapratimonk — 2025-06-26

Adolescent mental health plays a crucial role in their overall development, affecting emotional stability, academic performance, and social adaptation. This paper examines the concept of mental health in adolescents, its essential components, and the characteristics of those with strong or poor mental well-being. Key contributing factors include biological influences, family environment, social relationships, and academic pressures. Additionally, digital media and economic conditions also impact adolescent mental health. Understanding these factors is vital for creating supportive environments and effective interventions that promote long-term mental well-being.

Social Media and Its Impact on Children’s Behavioral Development

Siraluck Puttapratimonk — 2025-06-26

Social media has become an integral part of children’s lives, influencing how they communicate, learn, and perceive the world. This paper explores the impact of social media on children’s behavioral development, highlighting both positive and negative outcomes. While social media can facilitate social connections, provide access to educational resources, and encourage prosocial behavior, it also poses risks such as mental health issues, sleep disturbances, and body image concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated social media use among children, raising concerns about its potential negative effects. Specific groups, such as children with pre-existing mental health conditions or from low socioeconomic backgrounds, may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of social media. Strategies for mitigating these risks include parental monitoring, setting boundaries, and promoting alternative activities. The paper emphasizes the importance of balanced, responsible social media use and the need for ongoing research to understand its long-term effects on children’s development.

The Experiences of Adolescent Mental Health Counselors: A Qualitative Exploration

Allison Bradford Chow — 2025-06-25

This qualitative study examines the lived experience of clinical mental health counselors in the United States who work with adolescents. Participants included pre-licensed (associate) or licensed counselors who predominately work with and have a strong preference for working with adolescents. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative approach. Ten domains were identified as part of data analysis: (a) Understanding Adolescent Culture and Building a Therapeutic Alliance, (b) The Intersection of Counselor and Adolescent Emotions, (c) Transference and Countertransference, (d) Clinical Challenges and Barriers, (e) The Multifaceted Role of Parents, (f) Nuances of Confidentiality, (g) Adolescent Development and Strengths, (h) Reasons Why Counselors Work with Adolescents, (i) Counseling Recommendations and Techniques Utilized with Adolescents, and (j) Counselor Sustainability. Implications for the counseling profession are included.

Determinants of nutrition among children aged 1-5 years attending a Taluk Hospital in Bengaluru Urban District – a Cross-sectional study

Rubeena Rajan — 2025-06-25

Undernutrition is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among children under-5 in developing countries. Undernutrition includes underweight, stunting, and wasting. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 35.5%, 32.1%, and 27.0% respectively in India (NFHS-5). Factors contributing to undernutrition include socio-demographic factors, insufficient diet, and recurrent infections. This study aims to determine the prevalence of undernutrition and explore the socio-demographic factors impacting nutrition in children under five years old among under-5 children in a taluk hospital in Bengaluru Urban district. This study was conducted among 250 under-5 children attending the Anekal Taluk Hospital, Bengaluru Urban district from June 2023 to August 2023. A structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic and nutritional details was administered, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. The median age of the children was 2.0 years (IQR:1.0-3.0). Overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among children was found to be 42.0%, 28.8%, and 17.6% respectively. A significantly higher proportion of vegetarian children [OR 1.827(1.017-3.284)] were underweight. Junk food consumption among children [OR 1.991(1.007-3.935)] was found to be significantly associated with stunting. Undernutrition was significantly higher in children born with low birth weight (p<0.05). This study revealed that low birth weight of the child, maternal dietary habits, and educational levels were significant factors contributing to undernutrition. It is imperative to ensure reinforcing corrective measures are reinforced to fulfil improvement in child nutrition.

Evidence-Based Policy Strategies for Holistic Health Promotion in School-Age Children: A Synthesis from the Evaluation of the Smart Love, Smart Parenting Program in Nan Province

Worinthep Chuasamran — 2025-06-25

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Smart Love, Smart Parenting” Program in enhancing parenting skills and multiple intelligence in school-aged children in Nan Province. The study was based on the concept of positive parenting. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, using a pre-post single group design. The sample consisted of 70 households with children aged 6–12 years from general areas and 153 households from remote areas. Data were collected from parents before and after participating in the program using a parenting skills assessment and a multiple intelligence assessment for children. The findings revealed statistically significant improvements in both parenting skills (p < 0.01) and children’s multiple intelligence (p < 0.05) after program participation. The “Smart Love, Smart Parenting” Program was well received by parents, teachers, and public health personnel, who recognized the importance of strengthening family relationships and community support in child development. The findings indicate that the “Smart Love, Smart Parenting” Program is effective in promoting parenting skills and enhancing the multiple intelligence of school-aged children in both general and remote areas. The findings have implications for strengthening and developing parenting training programs within communities, particularly in areas with limited access to public health services. Moreover, the results can be applied in designing programs that foster positive relationships among homes, schools, and communities to sustainably support the development of parenting skills and children’s multiple intelligence.