The National Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Their Associations With Health Conditions Among General Junior High School Students in China: Findings From the China Education Panel Survey.
One quick survey question flags 4.6 % of junior-high kids who carry triple risk for anxiety, depression, and cognitive struggles.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked 8,324 Chinese junior-high students if they had ever been told they had autism, ADHD, or another developmental delay.
They also asked about anxiety, depression, and how well the kids thought they could think and learn.
All answers came from one paper-and-pencil survey done during regular class time.
What they found
One in every 22 students said yes to an NDD label.
Those same kids were far more likely to report feeling anxious, depressed, or having trouble with memory and school work.
Girls with NDD reported more mood problems; boys with NDD reported more thinking problems.
How this fits with other research
Du et al. (2020) and Hua et al. (2014) already showed that Chinese preschoolers with motor delays often share the same risk flags—boys, pre-term birth, low parent education. Shu-Li et al. move the lens up to junior-high and still find the same group carrying extra weight.
Amaral et al. (2019) saw anxiety or depression in 35 % of clinic-referred kids with intellectual disability. The new survey says the burden is just as real in everyday classrooms, not just clinics.
Norman et al. (2021) in Ghana and Yen et al. (2014) in Taiwan each linked learning or attention problems to poor mental health. Shu-Li et al. now show the pattern is nation-wide in China, strengthening the case that NDD and mood troubles travel together across cultures.
Why it matters
If you work in schools, add one more question to your intake: “Has a doctor ever said you have autism, ADHD, or developmental delay?” A yes answer is a red flag for anxiety, depression, and learning problems even when the child looks “fine.” Use quick mood and cognition screeners, and link these students to counseling or accommodations before grades and self-esteem drop.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add an NDD self-report item to your student survey and follow up any “yes” with a brief anxiety/depression screener.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) remain poorly understood in adolescents, particularly in middle-income countries like China. To assess NDDs prevalence and their associations with health conditions among Chinese general junior high school students, data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS, 2013-2015) were used. A total of 8324 junior high school students were included. Validated questionnaires and tests assessed NDDs (autism spectrum disorder [ASD], language disorder [LD], and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) and health conditions (physical health through overweight/obesity and myopia; mental health through anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms; cognitive functioning through academic performance and cognitive ability; adherence to social norms). Of 8324 participants, 299 (4.59%) had NDDs. Students with NDDs showed higher rates of anxiety symptoms and poor cognitive ability compared to those without NDDs. Specific NDD associations included anxiety symptoms with LD and ADHD, depression symptoms with ASD and ADHD, and poor cognitive ability with ASD and LD. Sex-specific disparities were observed in the associations: the link between NDDs and depression symptoms was evident solely in boys, whereas the association between NDDs and academic performance was significant only in girls. Increased surveillance of NDDs prevalence nationwide and improved support services through better integration of families, schools, and society are needed.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2025 · doi:10.1002/aur.70111