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A survey of Illinois high school students found that 35% of girls and 21% of boys felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities.

A high school survey found that 18% of girls and 11% of boys had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months.

One in five Illinois high school students reported being bullied on school property in the past 12 months.

Electronic bullying was reported by 22% of female high school students and 11% of male students.

Among children with emotional, developmen-tal, or behavioral problems, only 55% received treatment or counseling over the past 12 months, according to a survey of parents.

The frequency of stress from parenting is much greater among low-income families than among other families. Similarly, parental stress is much more frequent in mother-only households than in two-parent households.

A survey of Illinois parents found that 80% of white children had mothers whose mental health was excellent or very good, compared with 72% of African-American children, and 57% of Latino children. There was a similar pattern among fathers.

Social & Emotional Well-Being

HIGHLIGHTS

Mental Health Status of Mother, 2011–2012Both the physical and emotional health of parents can affect the healthy development of children.

low-income children had mothers with excellent or very good mental health

6 out of 10 children at higher income levels had mothers

with excellent or very good mental health

8 out of 10

NOTE Children ages 0–17.

SOURCE National Survey of Children’s Health (survey of parents).

39voices4kids.org Voices for Illinois Children

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Adverse family experiences include: socioeconomic hardship, divorce/separation of parent, death of parent, parent served time in jail, witness to domestic violence, victim of neighbor-hood violence, lived with someone who was mentally ill or suicidal, lived with someone with alcohol/ drug problem, and discrimination based on race/ethnicity. [National Survey of Children’s Health]

Bullying at school has been increasing nationwide since 2001. Bullying can lead to negative outcomes including increased loneliness and unhappiness, greater difficulty making friends, more health problems, and increased anxiety and depression. [Child Trends DataBank]

Two or More Adverse Family Experiences, 2011–2012

Percent

All children

Race-Ethnicity

White

Black

Latino

Income Level

Below 200% FPL

200–399% FPL

400% FPL or higher

FPL federal poverty level

NOTE Children ages 0–17. Adverse family experiences are a modified version of the risk factors in the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.

SOURCE National Survey of Children’s Health (survey of parents).

19

17

31

15

25

19

9

Bullying Experienced by High School Students in Past 12 Months, 2011

Percent 25

20

15

10

5

0

SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Total Male Female Total Male Female

Bullied on school property Electronically bullied

19

13

18

12

20

1316

12 118

22

15

Illinois Chicago

High School Students with Depressive or Suicidal Feelings in Past 12 Months, 2011

Percent Felt sad or hopeless Seriously considered attempting suicide Attempted suicide

Total

Gender

Male

Female

Race-Ethnicity

White

Black

Latino

NOTE Depressive feelings mean feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities.

SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

28 14 8

21

35

11

18

6

9

26

25

34

14

14

16

6

11

11

40 Voices for Illinois Children voices4kids.org

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Children Who Needed and Received Services from a Mental Health Professional, 2011–2012

Percent Yes No

Children with any kind of emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems for which they need treatment or counseling 10 90

Received any treatment or counseling from a mental health professional during past 12 months 55 45

NOTE Children ages 2–17.

SOURCE National Survey of Children’s Health (survey of parents).

Frequency of Stress from Parenting, 2011–2012

Usually or always Percent Seldom feels stress feels stress

All children 88 12

Race-Ethnicity

White 93 7

Black 77 23

Latino 85 15

Income Level

Below 200% FPL 82 18

200–399% FPL 92 8

400% FPL or higher 93 7

Household Type

Two-parent household 91 9

Mother-only household 82 18

FPL federal poverty level

NOTE Children ages 0–17. Race-ethnicity refers to the child.

SOURCE National Survey of Children’s Health (survey of parents).

Parental stress related to economic hardship and other factors can have a range of harmful effects on child development. [Carly Tubbs and Lawrence Aber, “Cascading Effects of Parental Stress,” The American Prospect, May 31, 2013]

Mental Health Status of Parents, 2011–2012

Excellent or very good Mother’s Father’s Percent mental health mental health

All children

Race-Ethnicity

White

Black

Latino

Income Level

Below 200% FPL

200–399% FPL

400% FPL or higher

FPL federal poverty level

NOTE Children ages 0–17. Race-ethnicity refers to the child.

SOURCE National Survey of Children’s Health (survey of parents).

81

77

66

76

65

78

85

80

72

57

73

60

81

82

41voices4kids.org Voices for Illinois Children 41voices4kids.org Voices for Illinois Children

Parental stress can affect children directly in the form of negative parent-child interactions. How-ever, parental stress often affects children indirectly through the parent’s inability to spend time with his or her child, monitor child activities, or help with homework.

There are many contributing factors to parental stress, including household finances, marital strife, and having a child with a chronic disability. Some households, such as those that are low-income, from ethnic or racial minority backgrounds, or headed by a single parent, face additional levels of stress. These additional stress factors can include housing instability, discrimination, unstable and unsafe neighborhoods, food insufficiency, and unemployment. Immigrant parents face additional challenges such as language barriers, limited knowledge about how to help their children succeed in a new environment, isolation, and cultural differences. In order to deal with stress, families may need additional support from their extended families, communities, and social service agencies.

Not all parents who face high levels of stress develop depression. However, research shows that women are more likely to become depressed, and Latina women have been found to have excep-tionally high rates of depression. While there are traditional treatments for individuals with

depression, it is important to develop family oriented programs that are culturally sensitive. Keeping Families Strong, a program that was initially developed and studied in Maryland, served low-income white and African-American families. We culturally adapted the program for Latina mothers and their families in Wisconsin, calling it Fortalezas Familiares (FF). The FF program is delivered in a multifamily group format consisting of three to six families. Each of twelve weekly meetings begins with a culturally appropri-ate meal shared by the parents and their children. These family meals are designed to build trust and promote social support. After the meal, the families divide into two groups, one of parents and the other of youth between the ages of 9 and 18. Children under 9 years old are provided with child care. A unique aspect of the FF program is that each family member who is involved receives and discusses information about understanding depression, building positive communication, and how to support each other, all in the context of integrating two cultures.

The results of FF so far have been promising. Mothers reported improved emotional well-being, family support, and family functioning. Children also reported positive changes. We hope to bring Fortalezas Familiares to Illinois to expand the research on this important program.

ADDRESSING PARENTAL STRESS IN VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Parental stress can have far-reaching consequences for children. When parents are chronically stressed, as is the case with those suffering from depression, their children are at risk for emotional, behavioral, and academic difficulties. Children may internalize these challenges and experience depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems; or they may externalize these challenges and act out through problem behaviors. They may be unable to focus and concentrate on their studies at school and other responsibilities.

CARMEN VALDEZAssociate Professor, Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison

SANDRA MAGAÑAProfessor, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING