Care Under Strain: Caregiver Mental Health and Early Childhood Development in Rural China

Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2024 and 2025 in a relatively well-off rural area of China, this study examines the mental health of primary caregivers of young children and its correlates. The quantitative data show high prevalence of cognitive (40%), language (42%), and motor (20%) developmental delays among the children. Caregiver mental health problems may be one possible contributing factor given that approximately 17% of caregivers exhibit at least one mental health issue (i.e. stress, anxiety, or depression). The qualitative analysis identifies several risk factors of caregiver mental health problems: limited awareness of mental health concepts; heavy burden of caregiving; insufficient public services; and a lack of awareness of caregiver mental health’s impact on child development.