Statistical commentary: children living with at least one parent reporting emotional distress, 2010 to 2016
Published 16 March 2018
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-living-with-parents-in-emotional-distress-2010-to-2016/statistical-commentary-children-living-with-at-least-one-parent-reporting-emotional-distress-2010-to-2016
Background
Poor parental mental health is associated with an increased risk of subsequent behavioural and emotional difficulties in children. This publication provides an estimate of the proportion of children whose parents are experiencing emotional distress, which is indicative of mental health problems such as anxiety and/or depression. These data are displayed over the course of the Understanding Society longitudinal survey. It also provides an understanding of the role that being a lone parent and worklessness play in parental mental health.
Results
In 2015 to 2016, around 1 in 4 children lived with at least one parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress. There has been an increase of 1.4% from 2014 to 2015, although it remains lower than 2013 to 2014. Of these children, around 3 in 4 were living with a mother reporting symptoms of emotional distress, and just under half are living with a father reporting symptoms of emotional distress.
Children are more likely to live with a parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress if that parent is out of work. Around half of children living with two parents who do not work have a parent reporting symptoms of emotional distress.
This data is based on the self-reported 12-item General Health Questionnaire as collected in the Understanding Society survey from 2010 to 2016.