Factors Influencing Perceptions of Need for and Decisions to Solicit Child Mental Health Services by Parents of 9–12 Year-Old Korean Children

Abstract

As children with emotional or behavioral problems often fail to receive the treatment available to them, this study examined (1) the degree of perceived need (PN) among Korean parents regarding mental health services for their children, (2) the factors associated with such perceptions, (3) the degree to which Korean parents actually engage mental health services for their children, and (4) the factors associated with such use. To determine the degrees of PN and actual use, 1,058 children aged between 9 and 12 years were asked to complete the Children's Depression Inventory, while their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist. About 11.4% of the parents demonstrated PN, compared to 2.7% who actually engaged child mental health services. While most of the CBCL factors were associated with PN, the child's self-report significantly affected the perception as well. The attention problem score in the CBCL was the only factor that strongly corresponded to the actual use of services in Korea, a country where academic achievement is considered paramount, which suggests that cultural forces may play a powerful role in determining parents' decisions regarding child mental health care.

Children’s Adjustment and Child Mental Health Service Use: The Role of Parents’ Attitudes and Personal Service Use in an Upper Middle Class Sample

“…In addition to the previously mentioned variables, child variables (e.g., type of psychological problem) have been hypothesized to influence parental help-seeking (e.g., Cho et al 2007;Cohen et al 1991;Zahner and Daskalakis 1997). For children who receive services or treatment, the most common and persistent forms of child and adolescent psychopathology have been categorized into internalizing problems (e.g., intropunitive emotions or moods) and externalizing problems such as harmful and disruptive behaviors to others (Olson et al 2005;Pavuluri et al 1996;Zahn-Waxler et al 2000).…”

“…It is important to note, however, that there is substantial comorbidity between internalizing and externalizing problems (Oland and Shaw 2005). Studies have reported that when examining differences in help-seekers versus those who have not sought help, externalizing problems and having higher levels of symptoms are more common (e.g., Cho et al 2007;Pavuluri et al 1996). However, among children with diagnosable problems, a considerable number do not receive the needed treatment.…”

Nonmedical Healing Methods

“…Another study has stated that attention problems are important in determining the use of mental health services. 11 For example, Verhulst and van der Ende 38 report that the most potent factors associated with child mental health service need and utilization are the child's problem behaviors (both internalizing and externalizing), academic problems, and family stress. However, socioeconomic factors and the child's gender were not, by themselves, associated with help-seeking behavior.…”

“…One study found that very few parents of children who were determined to need help for emotional and behavioral problems had been to the mental health center within the last year. 11 However, the rate at which families make use of nonmedical methods before seeking care at a mental health center is also low. This may indicate that parents are seeking other sources of information or treatment options that are not nonmedical in nature prior to consultation at a mental health center.…”

“…Therefore, the choice of treatment depends on an individual's cultural beliefs and notions. 11 Religious and spiritual resources can influence the parent's response to their child's illness [12][13][14][15] and there is growing 350 FAMILY & COMMUNITY HEALTH/OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2011 evidence that religious beliefs may play an important role in help seeking and treatment compliance. 16,17 In addition, aspects such as the child's gender, age, academic performance, and teacher's perception of the child's problems, as well as the parents financial status, mother's employment status, parents' education level, family and friend support, and experience regarding mental health centers, contribute to deciding whether or not the mental health center will be consulted regarding the child's mental health problem.…”