Prediction of Child Development based on Social Determinants of Health: A Path Analysis

Background: Many factors can effect on children's abilities and development. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of some risk factors as maternal health on child development using path analysis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total number of 608 mothers and their children, multistage sampling method, in the city of Yasouj, Iran. The data collection instrument was questionnaire-based. The researcher-made questionnaire included a demographic characteristics information form for mothers and a child profile form. Other questionnaires included Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Socioeconomic Inventory, Social Support Appraisals (SS-A) scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSS-14), Perceived Stress Scale (14 items), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale. Mothers completed the questionnaires in 4 days and after that handed them over to the researcher in the kindergartens. To analyze the data, the SPSS software version 20.0 and LISREL 8.8 and path analysis test were used. Results: Amount of developmental delay was 17.4% and the minimum and maximum delays were reported in problem-solving, personal-social skills and communication domains. There was a significant correlation between developmental status of children and socio-economic status, depression, social support, anxiety and marital satisfaction but correlation between developmental status of children and perceived stress was not significant. The final path model fitted well (RMSEA= 0.018, CFI= 1, NFI=1, IFI=1). Maternal anxiety had the most significant effect on child development (βTotal = -0.24722). Conclusion: Many factors including socio-economic status, maternal anxiety, perceived stress, social support, anxiety, and depression can affect on the developmental status of 3 to 5 year-old children.