Health Behaviour, Health Literacy and Mental Health in Children: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2025 | Viewed by 547

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Integrative Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Interests: health behaviour of children; health behaviour of ethnic minorities; prevention programs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The health behaviour of children is changing over time. In addition to the well-known and traditional risks factors, we have to face new risk factors (e.g., the use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products (IQOS), and video game or smartphone addiction), which influence not only the physical but also the mental and emotional statuses of children and adolescents. On the other hand, we have limited knowledge about the long-term health effects of new types of electronic cigarettes on children. Some special, vulnerable groups (e.g., disabled people, ethnic minorities) are more affected by harmful health behaviours; therefore, we have to pay more attention to their prevention in these groups.

Health literacy can influence the health behaviour not only of adults but also children. It could be an interesting question as to how we can measure health literacy in children and whether there is any association between their health literacy and behaviours or health statuses.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide insights into health literacy, mental health, and new trends in risk behaviour in children, and to show what kinds of prevention methods (innovative methods) were implemented and used effectively in this field.

We invite original articles, review articles, and meta-analyses related to these topics for this Special Issue. We hope that this Special Issue will contribute to better understanding of current processes and new insights as well as innovative methodologies in their prevention.

Prof. Dr. Attila Sárváry
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • smoking
  • electronic cigarette use
  • alcohol consumption
  • illegal drug use
  • physical activity
  • eating habits
  • video game use
  • smartphone use
  • screentime
  • physical health
  • mental health
  • prevention
  • intervention
  • health literacy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 440 KiB  
Article
Anxiety in Children: The Contribution of Parental Characteristics
by Beáta Bécsi, Jenifer Pataki and Gergő József Szőllősi
Children 2025, 12(5), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050553 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 187
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The prevalence of behavioral problems and mental health issues, including anxiety, among children is rising, potentially affecting their long-term well-being and social functioning. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key determinants of children’s health status, with a particular focus on [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The prevalence of behavioral problems and mental health issues, including anxiety, among children is rising, potentially affecting their long-term well-being and social functioning. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key determinants of children’s health status, with a particular focus on parental mental health, health behaviors, and socio-demographic factors. Methods: The data were sourced from a Hungarian representative database from 2019. The analysis was executed using multivariate and multiple logistic regressions. Results: Our sample consisted of data from 5603 individuals, of which 775 (14%) completed the children’s module. Significant associations were found between the parent’s tertiary education level (AOR = 3.93 [1.89–8.16]) and the child’s restlessness and anxiety, as well as between the parent’s existing depression and the child’s behavioral difficulties (AOR = 3.22 [1.97–5.28]) and anxiety (AOR = 2.43 [1.37–4.30]). Additionally, a significant association was observed between the parent’s secondary education level (AOR = 3.53 [1.51–8.27]) and the child’s health problems, which was also associated with cases of tertiary education (AOR = 3.17 [1.16–8.69]). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that parental education and mental health significantly influence children’s psychological and overall health, which is why targeted prevention and health promotion strategies are essential to support both children and families. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 817 KiB  
Review
Cultural Approaches to Addressing Sleep Deprivation and Improving Sleep Health in Japan: Sleep Issues Among Children and Adolescents Rooted in Self-Sacrifice and Asceticism
by Jun Kohyama
Children 2025, 12(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050566 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
This narrative review examines the issue of sleep deprivation among children and adolescents in Japan, exploring its cultural origins and evaluating the current state of sleep education and interventions. It emphasizes the profound influence of the Bushidō spirit, with its focus on self-sacrifice [...] Read more.
This narrative review examines the issue of sleep deprivation among children and adolescents in Japan, exploring its cultural origins and evaluating the current state of sleep education and interventions. It emphasizes the profound influence of the Bushidō spirit, with its focus on self-sacrifice and asceticism, as a core factor in the undervaluation of sleep in Japanese society. While educational initiatives and interventions highlighting the importance of sleep exist, significant limitations remain in improving sleep habits. Sleep deprivation continues to affect children and adolescents, despite its considerable impact on mental health and academic performance. This review presents a method for personalized sleep duration estimation and assesses its potential impact on improving sleep health by using optimal sleep duration calculations. The review also proposes practical steps to improve sleep duration through individualized strategies, integrating cultural context to mitigate the serious health risks associated with insufficient sleep. Ultimately, it underscores the need for targeted strategies to improve sleep among children and adolescents—particularly through personalized optimal sleep duration estimation—while advocating for a shift in cultural perspective beyond self-sacrifice and asceticism. The review highlights the importance of cultural transformation and suggests future research directions and practical applications. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop