The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health

While negative life events’(NLEs’) impact on vulnerable children’s mental health has been studied, the role of moderating variables remains unclear. Synthesizing the current evidence is critical to advancing understanding. Accordingly, this study conducted a meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects...

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Main Authors: Yunrong Pu, Kuo Zhang, Xiaoliu Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/882
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author Yunrong Pu
Kuo Zhang
Xiaoliu Jiang
author_facet Yunrong Pu
Kuo Zhang
Xiaoliu Jiang
author_sort Yunrong Pu
collection DOAJ
description While negative life events’(NLEs’) impact on vulnerable children’s mental health has been studied, the role of moderating variables remains unclear. Synthesizing the current evidence is critical to advancing understanding. Accordingly, this study conducted a meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model across 77 studies, which collectively encompassed 119 effect sizes, to elucidate the connections between NLEs and mental health indicators among distressed children. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between NLEs and negative indicators of mental health (<i>r</i> = 0.42), reflecting strong and consistent associations. In contrast, NLEs were associated with a significant negative correlation with positive indicators of mental health (<i>r</i> = −0.25), reflecting weak and variable associations. Furthermore, the relationship between NLEs and the mental health of vulnerable children was found to be consistent across various age groups and subpopulations. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of vulnerable children.
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spelling doaj-art-0084d0bdce9e4898a827b2f0475153e22025-08-20T03:13:42ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115788210.3390/bs15070882The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental HealthYunrong Pu0Kuo Zhang1Xiaoliu Jiang2School of Sociology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaSchool of Sociology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaSchool of Sociology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaWhile negative life events’(NLEs’) impact on vulnerable children’s mental health has been studied, the role of moderating variables remains unclear. Synthesizing the current evidence is critical to advancing understanding. Accordingly, this study conducted a meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model across 77 studies, which collectively encompassed 119 effect sizes, to elucidate the connections between NLEs and mental health indicators among distressed children. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between NLEs and negative indicators of mental health (<i>r</i> = 0.42), reflecting strong and consistent associations. In contrast, NLEs were associated with a significant negative correlation with positive indicators of mental health (<i>r</i> = −0.25), reflecting weak and variable associations. Furthermore, the relationship between NLEs and the mental health of vulnerable children was found to be consistent across various age groups and subpopulations. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of vulnerable children.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/882negative life eventsvulnerable childrenmental healthmeta-analysis
spellingShingle Yunrong Pu
Kuo Zhang
Xiaoliu Jiang
The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
Behavioral Sciences
negative life events
vulnerable children
mental health
meta-analysis
title The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
title_full The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
title_fullStr The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
title_full_unstemmed The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
title_short The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Mental Health in Chinese Vulnerable Children: A Meta-Analysis Based on the Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health
title_sort relationship between negative life events and mental health in chinese vulnerable children a meta analysis based on the dual factor model of mental health
topic negative life events
vulnerable children
mental health
meta-analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/882
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