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Cited by 107Child Welfare and AdoptionChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentMental Health Treatment and Access

Mental Health Problems in Teens Investigated by U.S. Child Welfare Agencies

Heneghan, Amy, Stein, Ruth E.K., Hurlburt, Michael S., Zhang, Jinjin, Rolls-Reutz, Jennifer, Fisher, Emily, Landsverk, John, Horwitz, Sarah McCue·2013·Journal of Adolescent Health
DOI 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.10.269
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Abstract

Purpose To examine prevalence and correlates of five mental health (MH) problems among 12-17.5 year olds investigated by child welfare.Methods Data from the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW II) were analyzed to examine depression, anxiety, substance use/abuse, suicidality, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as reported by teens and their caregivers. In a sample of 815 adolescents, prevalence for each MH problem and correlates (e.g., age, placement location) were identified using bivariate and multivariable logistic analyses.Results After investigation for maltreatment, 42.7% of teens reported at least one MH problem, regardless of placement. Nine percent reported depression, 13.9% reported suicidality, 23% had substance use/abuse, 13.5% reported anxiety, and 18.6% had ADHD. Of 332 teens with any MH problem, 52.1% reported only one problem, 28.3% had two problems, and 19.6% had ≥ three problems. Teens with prior out-of-home placement had odds 2.29 times higher of reporting a MH problem and odds 2.12 times higher of reporting substance use/abuse. Males were significantly less likely to report depression. Older teens were more likely to report substance use/abuse. Black teens were significantly less likely to report suicidality and ADHD and almost half as likely to report anxiety. Teens with a chronic health condition and teens whose caregiver reported depression had more than twice the odds of reporting anxiety.Conclusions This study highlights high rates of MH problems in teens of all ages and placement locations and suggests that all teens involved with child welfare should be screened for MH problems, regardless of initial placement status.

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  • ADHD is found at significantly higher rates among youth who have been the subject of a child welfare agency investigation, with nearly 19% of these youth aged 12-17 years meeting criteria for ADHD, compared with a prevalence rate of 5% in the general population.

    “ADHD is found at significantly higher rates among youth who have been the subject of a child welfare agency investigation, for example, with nearly 19% of these youth aged 12-17 years meeting criteria for ADHD, compared with a prevalence rate of 5% in the general population (Heneghan et al, 2013).”

    From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Heneghan et al, 2013

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Authors
Heneghan, A., Stein, R. E. K., Hurlburt, M. S., Zhang, J., Rolls-Reutz, J., Fisher, E., Landsverk, J., & Horwitz, S. M.
Affiliations
  • Palo Alto Medical Foundation (US)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego (US)
  • New York University (US)
Corresponding author
Heneghan, Amy
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Adolescent Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-05
Volume
52
Issue
5
Pages
634-640
ISSN
1054-139X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.10.269
OpenAlex
W1984900900
Cited by
107
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6
FWCI
24.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Adolescent Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (P30-MH074678)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
adolescent mental health, child welfare investigations, out-of-home placement, depression, anxiety, substance use, suicidality, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, maltreatment, chronic disease, racial disparities, mental health screening
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Welfare, Depression, Female, Government Agencies, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, United States, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Substance-Related Disorders, Suicidal Ideation

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