Different association of psychological distress with socioeconomic, migration, and parenting factors in first-time fathers and mothers among migrants in China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: First-time parents among young internal migrants are at high risk for psychological problems, especially during the early years of parenting. We aimed to explore the factors associated with psychological distress of first-time fathers and mothers among young migrants. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using the Chinese Internal Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey of 978 fathers and 731 mothers with children aged three years or younger. The main outcome variable was psychological distress, which was measured using the Short Form of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Potential independent factors related to sociodemographic information, migration, and parenting. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: = 0.88, p = 0.644) with prevalence of serious psychological distress of 11.86% and 13.27%. Fathers and mothers with higher subjective socioeconomic status (B = -0.29, 95% CI=-0.41, -0.17; B = -0.27, 95% CI=-0.43, -0.12), greater willingness to engage in social integration (B = -0.55, 95% CI=-1.05, -0.04; B = -0.59, 95% CI=-1.13, -0.05), and who often spent time with their children (B = -0.52, 95% CI = -1.03, -0.02; B = -0.85, 95% CI = -1.39, -0.31) were less distressed. A high school education (B = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.20, 1.14), with family monthly income of > = 8000 (B = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.003, 1.10), be unemployed (B = 1.46, 95% CI = 0.11, 2.81), and lower levels of acceptance by local residents (B = -0.56, 95% CI=-0.90, -0.22) were associated with more severe distress in fathers. Additionally, mothers with children aged 1 (B = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.12, 2.19) and 2 years (B = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.02, 2.08) had more distress than mothers with children under one-year old. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, common factors were associated with psychological distress in first-time parents among young migrants; however, differences were found between fathers and mothers. Parental differences should be considered when developing policies to improve young migrants' mental health.