AUTHOR=Cai Jingjing , Zhu Guochun , Tian Hongjuan , Yuan Jinna , Gao Huihui , Sun Liying , Dong Guanping , Ru Wei , Wu Dehua , Tang Daxing , Gao Weijia , Fu Junfen , Yang Rongwang 

TITLE=Mental health status of children with disorders of sexual development and their correlates

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.756382

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.756382

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Disorders of sexual development (DSD) refers to the congenital abnormalities of chromosomes, gonads or gender anatomy. Children with DSD usually experience more stress. The present study aims to evaluate the mental health status of children with DSD, and to explore the potential relevant factors. We included 30 children with DSD, and 30 age- and gender-matched normal children as control group. All the children and their parents completed the scales of the Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) Scale. Children over 8 years old (n=22) completed the Screen Scale for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), the Depression Self-rating Scale for Children (DSRSC), and the Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran-own memories of parental rearing practices in childhood. DSD Children had significantly higher scores of somatic anxiety, mental anxiety and total anxiety score than control group (P<0.001). The scores of the subscales of SCARED, anxiety, depression of DSD children were higher than that of normal control children (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that the score of generalized anxiety was positively related to age and entertainment presentation. The regression analysis showed that age was a major factor that affected generalized anxiety in DSD children, and Neuroticism was a major factor of anxiety disorder and separation anxiety in DSD children. Children with DSD have obvious anxiety problems, and it is associated with the family environmental factors (entertainment, success, conflicts) and age. It is important to focus emphasis on emotional stability in children with DSD for detecting anxiety related emotional disorders early.