TY - JOUR
AU - A. Luther
AU - D. Fearon
AU - I. Colman
AU - J. A. Dubin
AU - L. Duncan
AU - S. T. Leatherdale
AU - D. Browne
AU - M. A. Ferro
A1 - 
AB - This study investigated and compared correlates of multimorbidity with other single morbidity statuses (physical illness only, mental disorder only, neurodevelopmental disorder only) among children in Canada. The epidemiological sample included 33,715 children aged 5-17 years from the Canadian Health Survey of Children and Youth. Classification of children by morbidity status was based on reports from the person most knowledgeable (PMK). Multinomial logistic regression quantified associations between demographic and psychosocial characteristics and morbidity status using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Female (OR=0.5 [0.5-0.6]) and immigrant children (OR=0.6 [0.5-0.8]) were less likely to report multimorbidity, as well as singular morbidity statuses. Older children (OR=2.3 [2.1-2.6]) were more likely to report multimorbidity. Elevated parent stress (OR:2.1 [1.7-2.5]), worse parent mental health (OR=3.0 [2.4-3.7]), and communities perceived as less safe (OR:1.5 [1.2-2.0]) were associated with higher odds of multimorbidity. Differences in magnitudes of association across morbidity statuses for child age and sex, as well as PMK mental health, and stress levels represent opportunities to identify at-risk children to aid in the prevention of multimorbidity. Strong associations between parent stress and mental health and child morbidity highlight the need to adopt integrated health services that use a family-centred model of care.
AD - School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.; Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.; Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: mark.ferro@uwaterloo.ca.
AN - 40885222
BT - Ann Epidemiol
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
DA - Oct
DO - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.08.039
DP - NLM
ET - 20250828
JF - Ann Epidemiol
LA - eng
N2 - This study investigated and compared correlates of multimorbidity with other single morbidity statuses (physical illness only, mental disorder only, neurodevelopmental disorder only) among children in Canada. The epidemiological sample included 33,715 children aged 5-17 years from the Canadian Health Survey of Children and Youth. Classification of children by morbidity status was based on reports from the person most knowledgeable (PMK). Multinomial logistic regression quantified associations between demographic and psychosocial characteristics and morbidity status using odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Female (OR=0.5 [0.5-0.6]) and immigrant children (OR=0.6 [0.5-0.8]) were less likely to report multimorbidity, as well as singular morbidity statuses. Older children (OR=2.3 [2.1-2.6]) were more likely to report multimorbidity. Elevated parent stress (OR:2.1 [1.7-2.5]), worse parent mental health (OR=3.0 [2.4-3.7]), and communities perceived as less safe (OR:1.5 [1.2-2.0]) were associated with higher odds of multimorbidity. Differences in magnitudes of association across morbidity statuses for child age and sex, as well as PMK mental health, and stress levels represent opportunities to identify at-risk children to aid in the prevention of multimorbidity. Strong associations between parent stress and mental health and child morbidity highlight the need to adopt integrated health services that use a family-centred model of care.
PY - 2025
SN - 1047-2797
SP - 160
EP - 165+
ST - Correlates of single morbidities and multimorbidity in children: A cross-sectional study
T1 - Correlates of single morbidities and multimorbidity in children: A cross-sectional study
T2 - Ann Epidemiol
TI - Correlates of single morbidities and multimorbidity in children: A cross-sectional study
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1016/j.annepidem.2025.08.039
VL - 110
VO - 1047-2797
Y1 - 2025
ER -