PEDIATRIC NURSES’ ROLE IN PROMOTING CHILD MENTAL HEALTH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Child mental health is an essential component of pediatric well-being, yet emotional and behavioral disorders frequently remain undetected in clinical settings. Pediatric nurses are uniquely positioned to identify early signs of psychological distress; however, their ability to promote child mental health is often influenced by their knowledge, attitudes, and workplace conditions. This study explored pediatric nurses’ competencies in mental health promotion and examined factors influencing their practices.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used, involving 250 pediatric nurses selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers to mental health promotion. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Most nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge of child mental health, with only 20% achieving high knowledge scores. Attitudes were generally positive, as 78% believed pediatric nurses should actively promote mental health. Despite this, actual practices were limited: only 40% routinely screened for mental health concerns, 32% provided counseling, and 25.2% made mental health referrals. Significant barriers included high workload (70%), lack of training (65.2%), limited time (56%), parental stigma (50%), and inadequate institutional support (45.2%).

Conclusion: Although pediatric nurses expressed strong support for promoting child mental health, their knowledge and practice levels were insufficient to meet clinical needs. Systemic challenges and limited training contribute to a gap between positive attitudes and practical implementation. Strengthening mental health education, establishing standardized protocols, and enhancing institutional support are critical to improving early identification and mental health outcomes in children.