Parental Mental Health and Child Behavioral Problems in Selected Primary Schools in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria

Parental psychopathology is a recognized risk factor for childhood behavioral problems, with implications for school functioning and long-term developmental outcomes. This study examines the relationship between parental mental health status and behavioral problems among primary school children in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will enroll 260 parent-child dyads from six primary schools in Lafia and two rural local government areas. The General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) will assess parental psychological distress, while the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) will measure child behavioral problems across emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, and peer domains. Structural equation modeling will test a pathway model linking parental distress to child behavioral outcomes, controlling for household poverty and parenting style. Recent Nigerian evidence indicates that children of mothers with untreated depression exhibit higher rates of emotional and conduct difficulties in school. This study will contribute to child psychiatry literature in North Central Nigeria and support the development of family-centered mental health interventions in Nasarawa State. Keywords: parental mental health, child behavioral problems, primary school, Nasarawa State, GHQ-12