Character Strength and Mental Health Problems among Children from Low-Income Families in South Korea

• Published in: Children (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 10; p. 1599
• Main Authors: Na, Hyunjoo, Lee, Gyungjoo, Si, Euna, Jun, Won Hee, Park, Chang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.10.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: affective symptoms; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; behavioral symptoms; Caregivers; character; child; Child development; Community centers; Families & family life; Family structure; Hyperactivity; life change events; Likert scale; Low income groups; Mental health; Minimum wage; Pediatrics; Psychological aspects; Questionnaires; Social aspects; Teenagers; Wage rates; South Korea; character; behavioral symptoms; affective symptoms; life change events; child
• ISSN: 2227-9067; 2227-9067
• DOI: 10.3390/children9101599

This study was conducted to understand the association between character strength and mental health problems among children in early adolescence from low-income families in South Korea. This study used a cross-sectional and descriptive study design with 214 fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school children from low-income families enrolled in 20 community centers and receiving government financial assistance. A bivariate probit model was used to examine the association between character strength and mental health problems in the children. We found that character strength lowers the likelihood of developing hyperactivity-inattention and emotional symptoms among children from low-income families. Additionally, adverse life events were associated with increased mental health problems, whereas adverse life events were not significantly correlated with character strength in the current study. Specific interventions should be developed to cultivate character strength among children in early adolescence from low-income families who are at a high risk of mental health problems under cumulative adverse life events.