A new ARCH Lab study sheds light on what puts children with chronic physical illnesses at greater risk for mental health challenges. Researchers looked at the “p factor,” a measure that captures a child’s overall vulnerability to mental illness, across a group of 263 children aged 2 to 16 participating in the longitudinal Multimorbidity in Children and Youth Across the Life-course (MY LIFE).
Surprisingly, the type of physical illness—whether asthma, diabetes, or another condition—didn’t affect a child’s p factor score. Instead, the study found that mental health risks were shaped by a mix of personal, family, and community factors.
Children who were older, had more severe disabilities, or whose parents experienced high levels of stress or mental health issues were more likely to have higher p factor scores. Living in communities with fewer job opportunities and more newcomer or racialized families also predicted higher scores. On the flip side, girls and children with immigrant parents tended to have lower scores.
These findings highlight the need for a broad, integrated approach to care. We need to look beyond the illness itself and consider the child’s whole environment—family, community, and support systems.
The study supports a growing movement in pediatric care to combine physical and mental health services, especially for children with ongoing health conditions. It also points to opportunities for early intervention—like supporting parents’ mental health and reducing stress at home—to help prevent future mental health issues in kids.
