Korean J Psychosom Med.  2023 Dec;31(2):125-133. 10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.2.125.

A Comparative Study on the Mental Health of Adolescents Residing in Child Care Institutions (Orphanages) and Youth Shelters

• Joun Y
• Shin C
• Kim H
• Oh K
• Seo H
• Lee J
• Lee JJ

• KMID: 2550599
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.2.125

Abstract

objectives
：This study aims to compare the mental health of adolescents living in child care institutions (orphanages) and youth shelters, to provide basic data for appropriate psychiatric interventions for each facilities.
Methods
：The sample consisted of 157 adolescents in child care institutions and 31 adolescents in Youth Shelters who completed the Korean version of the Youth Self Report (K-YSR). We compared the K-YSR scores between the two groups and also examined factors related to suicidality.
Results
：Adolescents in youth shelters were older and had higher rates of drinking (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), and “abnormal sleep” (p=0.007) than adolescents in child care institutions. They also showed higher ‘suicidality’ (p=0.004) and K-YSR scores. On the other hand, adolescents in child care institutions have lower ‘suicidality’, but they have higher ‘suicidality’ when they have ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 4.194; p=0.006),abnormal diet’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010), and ‘concerns about weight gain’ (OR 2.503; p=0.010). Additionally, 17.6% of participants in the study showed ‘suicidality’. The ‘suicidality’ group had a higher overall K-YSR score than the non-suicidal group, and had higher ‘abnormal sleep’ (OR 3.766; p=0.014) and ‘concern about weight gain’ (OR 2.864; p=0.032).
Conclusions
：Adolescents in youth shelters appear to have more serious clinical difficulties than adolescents in child care institutions, so prompt psychiatric intervention is needed. Additionally, it is necessary to consider mental health assessments including suicidality when adolescents in child care institutions complain of sleep, eating, or weight gain problems.

Keyword

Child care institution (orphanage); Youth shelter; Adolescent; Mental health; Suicidality