Relationship between folic acid supplements during peri-conceptional period and the adverse pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the association between folic acid supplements during peri-conception and the related adverse birth outcome.Methods Pregnant women who received first prenatal care at 4 municipal-level medical institutions in Maanshan,from Oct.2008 to Oct.2010 were selected as the target population.All participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire which including data on demographic characteristics,interval,complications and frequency of taking folic acid etc.,during pregnancy.The follow-up-records after delivery would include factors as:fetal weight,height,circumference of head,chest circumference of the neonates.Finally,4448 valid questionnaires were gathered,including 190 premature,147 small for gestational age and 104 low birth weight babies.Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used for data analysis.Results Data showed that the weight,height and head circumference of the fetels at birth among pregnant women who had taken supplementary standard folic acid during peri-conception period or only during the first trimester,were all better than those pregnant women who had not taken the standard folic acid supplements.After adjustment for potential confounders as gestational weeks,maternal age,mather' s education level,results from the logistic regression showed that intake of standard folic acid supplements appeared a protective factor for those babies who were smaller than the gestational age (RR=0.45,95％ CI:0.24-0.86),at premature delivery (RR=0.52,95％ CI:0.32-0.87) or with low birth weight (RR=0.39,95％CI:0.19-0.80).However,data from this study showed that provision of folic acid supplements to the pre-pregnant or at first trimester alone did not make obvious impact on those babies as prematured,small for gestational age and at low birth weight.Conclusion Standardized provision of folic acid supplements during peri-conceptional period could improve the outcomes of birth.

Study on the relationship between child abuse, parent-child separation in childhood and the aggressive behavior in adolescence among 1417 junior high school students / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between aggressive behaviors, parent-child separation and experience of childhood abuse among junior high school students.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1417 students in ordinary junior high schools from 3 townships in Huoshan, Anhui were involved in this study. Self-made questionnaire was used to estimate aggressive behaviors, parent-child separation in childhood, child abuse and social demographic information of the students under this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Related scores (2.52 ± 0.78) on physical aggression in boys was higher than in girls (2.29 ± 0.79) while the scores related to anger (2.60 ± 0.82) and hostility (2.58 ± 0.80) in girls, were higher than those in boys (2.41 ± 0.75, 2.47 ± 0.78), all with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Scores related to different types of aggressive behaviors and the scores in total, were higher in students from the senior class (P < 0.001). Scores on items as verbal aggression, hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had undergone maternal-child separation during their childhood (P < 0.05). Scores on hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had suffered from father-child separation during their childhood (P < 0.05). Scores related to anger, hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had undergone both parent-child separation when they were much younger (P < 0.05). Students who had suffered from various types of repeated abuse showed higher scores in various types of aggressive behaviors and in total, than those who did not have the same experience. Most of the differences among groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Students that suffered parent-child separation in their earlier childhood and with repeated experiences of abuse in childhood appeared to be risk factors causing aggressive behaviors to develop during the age of adolescence.</p>

Impact of evening exercise on college students' sleep quality / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the impact of college students' evening exercise on their sleep quality, so as to provide a scientific basis for college students to choose an appropriate method of exercise and improve their sleep quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From September to October in 2012, Multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to select the 5997 college students in Anhui province. The status of college students' exercise and their sleep quality were investigated by the general situation questionnaire, Physical activity rating scale-3(PARS-3), Rating of perceived exertion(RPE) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI). Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the impact of evening exercise on sleep quality and multivariate unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the factors of sleep quality in evening excise students.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median of PSQI total score among 5806 college students was 5 and 1030(17.7%) students had poor sleep quality. The median of the PSQI scores was the same (5 points) for evening exercise group, daytime exercise group,daytime and evening exercise group and non-exercise group (1406, 1514, 1244, 1642 respectively). The difference was not statistically significant (χ(2) = 2.80, P = 0.42). Compared to non-exercise population, the OR (95%CI) value of evening exercise' impact on sleep quality was 0.90(0.73-1.10). Compared to very light evening exercise, the OR (95%CI) value of moderate and large amount of evening exercise' impact on sleep quality was 0.58 (0.44-0.75) and 0.67 (0.48-0.93) respectively; Compared to other sports, the OR (95%CI) value of badminton, rope skipping and jogging' impact on sleep quality was 0.72 (0.55-0.93), 0.38 (0.21-0.70) and 0.76 (0.60-0.95) respectively and they were all protective factors of sleep quality. Compared to small exercise intensity, the OR (95%CI) value of moderate, vigorous and very vigorous exercise intensity' impact on sleep quality was 1.68 (1.13-2.52), 2.38 (1.48-3.83) and 3.18 (1.72-5.90) respectively and they were harmful factors of sleep quality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was no impact of evening exercise on sleep quality for college students. Type of sports should be adequately chosen for evening exercise. College students can take moderate and large amount of evening exercise but should avoid activities of vigorous intensity.</p>

Psychopathological sub-healthy status as predictor on self-or unintentional injuries among Chinese adolescents: a school-based follow-up study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the association between psychological sub-healthy status and risks on injuries and related predictors among adolescents in China,in order to develop reasonable intervention programs.Methods Adolescents were selected from middle schools and colleges in eight cities.Baseline status on sub-healthy that related to psycho-pathology was measured using the Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA).Data on Self- or unintentional injuries were collected using a standardized injury surveillance questionnaire every 3 months,for three times (T0,T1,T2 and T3).Results A total of 12 113 students completed the study.Prevalence rates related to self-injury among boys and girls were 19.4％ and 19.9％,respectively.The rates of having more than 4 types of self-injuries in boys and girls were 4.7％ and 4.2％,respectively.Boys had a significantly higher unintentional injury rate than that of girls (62.2％ vs.57.3％ ).The differences in the rates of having more than 4 types of unintentional injury between boys (3.8％) and girls (3.4％) were also statistically significant.Rates on self- and unintentional-injuries increased in T1,T2 and T3 when the psychological symptoms had an increase.Data from Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the baseline psychological sub-healthy status was a predictive factor for higher risk of self- and unintentional- injuries at each of the follow-up waves.Conclusion Sub-healthy status of psycho-pathology was associated with an increased risk on self-and unintentional injuries among adolescents.Integrative psycho-pathological and behavioralintervention programs might help in reducing the risk of injuries among the Chinese adolescents.

Association between body mass index and physical fitness index among children and adolescents / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness index (PFI) among children and adolescents.Methods The study sample included 8941 students aged 7 to 18 years in Anhui who attended the Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance program of Chinese School Students,in 2010.Within each sex- and age-specific group,students were classified into five BMI categories which were:very low,BMI ＜5th percentile; low,BMI ≥5th but ＜15th percentiles; normal,BMI ≥15th but ＜85th percentiles; high,BMI ≥85th but ＜95th percentiles; and very high,BMI ≥95th percentiles.Z-scores based on urban-rural,sex- and age-specific means and standard deviations were calculated,and the sum of Z-scores for the fitness tests was used as a PFI.Differences in PFI between BMI categories were compared with ANOVA.Sex- and grade-specific regressions of PFI on BMI were done by using a linear model.Results For 8941 students,the PFIs on very low,low,normal,high and very high group were-1.77,-0.91,0.32,-0.17 and -0.54,respectively,and showed an inverted U shape.The normal BMI group students presented the highest PFI.Data from Linear regression analysis revealed that PFI was significantly positively correlated with BMI,while negatively associated with BMI square,which indicated that PFI was the quadratic function of BMI.When BMI was increasing,PFI showed a parabolic curvilinear.Conclusion Relationships between BMI and PFI were parabolic curvilinear among the children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 in Anhui province.

Situation of common psychosomatic symptom in adolescent and its influence on 6 months later suicide and self-injurious behavior / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of common psychosomatic symptoms among Chinese adolescents and the influence on 6 months later suicide and self-injurious behavior.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the cluster sampling method, the participants who were recruited from 8 cities from 3 areas in China, including Eastern areas (Beijing, Shaoxing and Guangzhou), Middle areas (Ezhou, Harbin and Taiyuan) and Western areas (Guiyang and Chongqing), were administered by multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescents (MSQA) in March 2008. Demographics, life style, psychosomatic symptoms, suicide and self-injurious behavior were also assessed. A total of 17 622 questionnaires were valid at baseline. Six months later, 14 407 questionnaires were eligible for two waves investigation. Analysis of Pearson chi-square and logistic model regression analysis were employed to compare the incidence of psychosomatic symptoms, suicide and self-injurious behaviors among different areas and to explore the possible risk factors of those symptoms and behaviors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At baseline, rates of total common physiological and psychological symptoms were 24.1% (4255/17622) and 30.9% (5447/17622), respectively, with the highest being eating and drinking too much (6.4%, 1130/17622) and hardly feel ease to learn at home (11.8%, 2087/17 622). In males, the rate of common psychological symptoms (30.7%, 2637/8599) was higher than physiological symptoms (24.0%, 2061/8599) (P < 0.05); in females, the rate of common psychological symptoms (31.1%, 2810/9023) was higher than physiological symptoms (24.3%, 2194/9023) (P<0.05). The rate of the common psychosomatic symptoms in senior high school students (46.8%, 2905/6208) were significantly higher than those in middle high school students (37.3%, 2337/6262) and college students (33.2%, 1711/5152) (all P values <0.05). Students from Western areas had the highest incidences of the common physiological and psychological symptoms (30.2%, 1471/4871; 40.6%, 1979/4871), higher than students from Middle areas (22.4%, 1443/6453; 27.0%, 1743/6453) and Eastern areas (21.3%, 1341/6298; 27.4%, 1725/6298) (all P values <0. 05). Results from multiple logistic regression showed that physical symptoms > or = 2 at baseline were shared risk factors for suicidal ideation (RR = 1.44, 95% CI:1.16 - 1.79), attempted suicide (RR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.22 - 2.61) and self-injurious behaviors (RR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17 - 1.66) 6 months later. Psychopathological symptoms > or = 4 at baseline was the shared risk factors for suicide ideation (RR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.39 -2.17), attempted suicide (RR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.39 - 3.11) and self-injurious (RR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.59 - 2.28) 6 months later.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is common in Chinese adolescents who have multiple psychosomatic symptoms simultaneously. What's important is that those common psychosomatic symptoms are shared risk factors of later suicidal and self-injurious behaviors.</p>

An investigation on the epidemic situation of intimate partner violence in 2575 college students / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of love affairs and intimate partner violence,and to explore the relationship between intimate partner violence and other mental health and risk behavior in college students.Methods Three universities were selected using cluster sampling method in Hefei and Wuhu.Totally.2575 college students completed an anonymous questionnaire.Intimate partner violence,depression,satisfaction of school life,self-esteem,suicidal psychology and behavior were evaluated to estimate the relationship between intimate partner violence and mental health/risk behavior.Results There were 46.9%students reported that they had intimate partner currently or in the past.The rate of having intimate partner in male students was higher than that in female students(x2=44.13,P<0.001).And the rates were higher in sophomores and juniors than in freshmen(x2=161.84,P<0.05).There were 21.1% students had sexual behavior with their intimate partners.But only 21.8%(34/156)intimate partners reported that they used condom every time.There were 11.5%(18/156)intimate partners reported that they never took any contraception.There were 18.6%(29/156)students reported that they were pregnant or led to their girlfriend becoming pregnant,but only less than 50.0% adolescents induced abortion in a legal hospitals.The rates of being the victim of physical assault,emotional abuse,sexual coercion,the total intimate partner violence were 18.0%,33.6%,5.1%.37.1%.The rates of being the victim of physical assault,emotional abuse,total intimate partner violence in male adolescents were higher than those in female adolescents,but the rate of sexual coercion was on the contrary(x2=70.21,13.25,14.04,5.77,P<0.05).Among the intimate partners who had suffered from intimate partner,74.2%(345/446)students had underwent more than 3 times.and 47.1% had underwent more than 2 types of intimate partner violence.The score of depression was highest in the victims of intimate partner violence,but the scores of self-esteem and school life satisfaction were on the contrary(F=4.00,16.39,8.76,P<0.05).The rates of suicidal ideation,suicidal plan,suicidal preparative and attempted suicide were highest in the victims of intimate partner violence(x2=13.80,9.72,8.52,11.96,P<0.05).Conclusion The rate of having sexual behavior with their intimate partners was high in college students,but their self-protection awareness was insufficient.In the present study,a high prevalence of intimate partner violence among university students was observed,and highlighted a need for attention to the other mental health and risk behavior in adolescents with intimate partner violence.

Association between self-assessed somatotypes and symptom depression among children and adolescents / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the association between self-assessed somatotypes and depression related symptoms.Methods The study sample included 5555 students aged 9 to 18 years who had attended the Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance of Chinese School Students(2010)in Chizhou city,Anhui province.Association between self-assessed somatotypes,body mass index(BMI)and depression symptom were examined.Results There was a slight consistency between self-assessed somatotypes and BMI in both boys and girls(Kappa=0.217,P=0.000; Kappa=0.203,P=0.000).Significant difference in the prevalence of depression was found among weight misperception groups in both genders(x2=145.223,P=0.000).The prevalence of umderestimation of somatotypes was significantly higher in boys than in girls,while the result was reversive on the prevalence of overestimation.Additionally,the prevalence of depression was higher in girls than in boys(x2=5.199,P=0.023).Through logistic regression,data showed that self-assessed somatotypes and miscalculated groups were significantly associated with depressive symptoms.Compared to the group that self-assessment as being normal,those students when self-assessed as being slim,overweight or obesity were more likely to be depressive,with odds ratio(ORs)as 1.255(95％CI:1.066-1.478),1.538(95％CI:1.275-1.856)and 1.713(95％ CI:1.035-2.834),respectively.Overestimated and underestimated somatotypes appeared to be risk factors causing symptoms of depression(OR=1.705,95％CI:1.382-2.105; OR=1.241,95％CI:1.059-1.454).Conclusion Slight consistency was found between self-assessed somatotypes and BMI,while the misjudged somatotypes were the risk factor related to depressive symptoms.It was suggested that life skills education should be carried out as preventive intervention approach,to improve the physical and mental health well-being of children and adolescents.

The prevalence and influencing factors of abuse and negligence against elderly in rural areas of Anhui province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors related to abuse and negligence against the elderly in the rural areas. Methods 975 elderly over 60 years from 41counties in Anhui province were included. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire including items as: educational background, marital condition, income, child-discipline, rude action to parents, daily activities, physical functions, having chronic illness, abuse and negligence against the elderly, etc. Results In the last year, rates of common physical abuse, serious physical abuse,emotional abuse, financial exploitation, negligence, overall abuse and negligence against the elderly were 4.5%, 1.5%, 26.9%, 4.9%, 7.2%, 29.9% respectively. Among the 281 victims, 80.4% reported that they were suffered more than 3 times of abuse and neglect episodes, and 34.9% reported that they were suffered more than 2 forms of abuse and negligence. The primary sadism was carried out by the daughter-in-law or son-in-law (43.2%) of the elderly. Low activity on daily life and having chronic illness were the risk factors causing common physical abuse while better education was the protective factor to it, Low ability in managing daily activity of living was the risk factor causing serions physical abuse. Less active on daily life and having rude action to parents were the risk factors to emotional abuse, but being strict with their children was the protective factor to emotional abuse. Less active on daily life, often beating their children and having rude action to parents were the risk factors related to financial exploitation. Less active on daily life, having rude action to parents and having bad physical functions were the risk factors causing negligence. Less active on daily life and having rude manner to parents were the risk factors of overall elderly abuse and negligence, but being strict with their children was protective factor to the abuse and negligence against the elderly. Conclusion High prevalence on abuse and negligence against the elderly was seen in the rural areas of China. Different forms on elderly abuse and negligence were affected by different factors that called for more attention to be paid to those elderly with lower ability in managing their daily life.

Impact of psychosocial factors on suicide attempts in high school and college students, data from eight cities of China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective This paper aimed to report the rate of suicide attempts among adolescent and young students of eight cities in China, and to examine the impact of related psychosocial factors on suicide attempts. Methods The investigation was obtained in senior and junior high school and college students in eight cities of China. All of the 17 622 participants were recruited to complete anonymous questionnaires regarding their experiences of suicide attempts and related psychosocial factors. Results Overall, 2.2 percent of the respondents reported that they had experienced attempted suicide during the previous year. Scores on high anxiety (OR=2.61,95%CI: 1.64-4.16),high depression (OR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.35-3.10),suicide idea (OR= 14.21, 95%CI: 9.88-20.43),suicide plan(OR=3.50,95%CI:2.59-4.73) were revealed as common risk factors while the whole time span being accompanied by mothers during juvenile years (OR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.20-0.74) seemed to be protective factor for suicide attempts through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Our results showed that emotional symptom, idea and plans for suicide were statistically associated with suicide attempted in high school and college students.

An investigation on self-harm episodes and their relationship with suicidal psychology and behaviors in 2713 college students / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the episodes and influencing factors on self-harm and to explore the relationship between self-harm episodes and suicidal psychology and behaviors in college students. Methods Four universities were selected using cluster sampling method in Anqing city and Chaohu city. Totally, 2713 college students completed this survey. Data were analyzed by Pearson Chi-square and logistic regression. Results In the last six months, rates of highly lethal self-harm,less lethal self-harm with visible tissue damage, self-injury without visible tissue damage,self-harmful behaviors with latency damage, other self-harmful behaviors with menticide were 1.9%,5.5%, 15.3%, 21.2% and 17.0% respectively. The total rate of self-harm was 31.3%. 73.1% of the students with self harmful experiences had the above mentioned behaviors more than 3 times in the last six months. The top 3 reasons for taking self-harm actions were: having learning problems (43. 1% ), failed love affairs (25.0%) and having conflicts with others (23.9%). There were different influencing factors among different kinds of self-harm episodes. Depression was the risk factor of self-harm. The higher score of having high self-esteem was the protective factor of all kinds of self-harm actions except highly lethal ones. Higher score of difficulties in identifying feelings was one of the risk factors. The rates of suicidal psychology and behaviors in students with self-harm were significantly higher than those in students without those behaviors. Result from linear x2 test indicated that the graveness of tissue damage of self-harm was higher along with the rates of suicidal psychology and behaviors (P＜0.01). Conclusion Among 2713 college students, about 1/3adolescents having experienced self-harm in the last 6 months, many with repeated ones. Depression and difficulties in identifying feelings were the two risk factors while self-esteem was the protective factor related to most of the self-harm cases.

Study on the school-related-factors of attempted suicide among rural middle school students / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective This study was undertaken to examine possible relationship between attempted suicide and underachievement,bullying,low life satisfaction and low self-concept at school.Methods An anonymous self-report survey assessing demographic characteristics and the major risk factors of teenage attempted suicide was completed by students from 16 middle schools in grades seven to twelve in 4 counties of Anhui province (age 10 to 21 years).An anonymous questionnaire was used to rate attempted suicide,bullying involvement and learning performance.Attempted suicide was defined as: experiencing specific suicide actions at least one time during the 12 months preceding the survey.Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale and Children' s Self-concept Scale were used to evaluate satisfaction and self-conscience on and at respectively.In total,10 894 respondents substantially completed the survey.Multiple logistic-regression analyses,controlling for socio-demographic variables,was used to analyze if underachievement,bullying,low school life satisfaction and low children' s self-conscience at school had been risk factors.Results 629 participants (5.8%) reported having made at least one attempted suicide within the last 12 months.Students being underachieved were significantly having more attempted suicide events than those excellent students (X2=11.39,P=0.023).Students being both bully-victims and practiced bully were significantly more than those being only practiced bully (28.7% vs.15.8%,P＜0.001),being victims (28.7% vs.10.6%,P＜0.001) or having neither of them (28.7% vs.4.8%,P＜0.001).Results from multiple logistic regression analyses showed that underachievement,bullying,lower school life satisfaction and low self-conscience were risk factors for attempted suicide.Conclusion Data from this study confirmed that school bullying and children' s self-conscience at school were significantly associated with attempted suicide among rural middle school students in Anhui province.It is of importance to improve the school' s environments to reduce the risk of attempted suicide among this group.

Psychological well-being among adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the psychological well-being among adolescents of HIV-positive parents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was involving 298 adolescents from 10 to 18 years old, including 54 adolescents of both parents living with AIDS or HIV, 114 adolescents of one parent living with AIDS or HIV and another 130 adolescents from normal families. Only one adolescent was studied per family. All participants completed an anonymous questionnaire. Psychological health, satisfaction on life, self-esteem and coping style were evaluated by SCL-90, Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale, Self-esteem Scale and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total score and 10 factors of the SCL-90 in the adolescents of parents living with HIV or AIDS was higher than the adolescents from normal families and those scores in the adolescents of both parents living with HIV or AIDS were the highest. There were 27.8% of the adolescents with both HIV-positive parents were having the total score of SCL-90 more than 160 or at lest one of the 10 factors' score more than 3. The detected rate of adolescents with one HIV-positive parent was 16.7%, higher than those adolescents from normal families (8.5%) and with significant difference (chi2 = 11.457, P = 0.003). 50.0% of the adolescents with both HIV-positive parents, were having one or more factor' score between 2.0 and 3.0, compared to the rate (37.0%) of adolescents with one HIV-positive parent. The rate was higher than the adolescents from normal families (29.8%) and with significant difference (chi2 = 7.250, P = 0.027). Among the students from normal families, the total score and the 5 dimensionalities' score of the MSLSS were lower than those adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV. In the friend dimensionality, the score of the adolescents from normal families was significantly higher than the adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV. The scores of self-esteem, positive coping style and negative coping style were not significantly different in three different subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The psychological status of the adolescents of parents living with AIDS or HIV indicated unoptimistic situation.</p>

Study on the relations between psycho-behaviors and weight control in adolescents / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the different sex, age and grade distribution of coping behavior and its psychological effects on weight, and to analyze the correlation between overweight, obesity and unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control in adolescents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A survey was conducted among students of grade 1 and grade 2 at a junior middle school in Hefei. Students completed the anonymous. questionnaire including the demographic characteristics of adolescents and parents, self-assessed weight status and adolescents' psycho-behaviors related to weight control. Anthropometric measures were taken together with body mass index (BMI) calculated. Students were divided into obesity,overweight and control groups by BMI separate criteria and by self reporting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among all the students, 17.4% reported having unhealthy psychological feelings related to weight control including 3.8% reported having unhealthy behaviors related to weight control and 19.1% of them reported having unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control. The rates of unhealthy psychological feelings, unhealthy behaviors and total unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control among girls (20.6%, 4.3%, 22.6%) were all higher than those among boys (14.5%, 3.3%, 15.8%) (P < 0.05). The rates of unhealthy psychological feelings, unhealthy behaviors and total unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control in obese individuals both assessed by BMI and assessed by self reporting appeared to be the highest (P < 0.05). In addition,data showed that obesity and overweight assessed both by BMI separate criteria and by self-reporting appeared positive correlations with the rates of unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control. Moreover, the relationship between obesity or overweight assessed by the two methods and unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control did not alter by other factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control of girls are more severe than boys. The relationship between obesity and unhealthy psychological feelings and behaviors related to weight control does not alter by other factors such as social factors.</p>

Smoking and subjective life qualities in middle school students / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the tendency of smoking in middle school students during the last 5 years and to identify the relationship between subjective life qualities and different smoking behaviors in order to determine the possible effects on tobacco use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six middle schools were chosen in the city and rural areas of Hefei in 1998 and 2003, respectively. Smoking behaviors such as ever smoking, smoking before 13 years old, current smoking, regular smoking and addictive smoking were surveyed. Emotional symptoms, satisfaction on school life and on general life were chosen to estimate subjective life qualities. Relationship between subjective life qualities and smoking behaviors was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Prevalence rates of smoking before 13 years old, current smoking, regular smoking and addictive smoking in 2003 (8.8%, 12.0%, 5.6% and 1.7%, respectively) were higher in 1998 (3.1%, 3.0%, 1.7% and 0.6%, respectively). The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were high among students with ever smoking, current smoking, regular smoking, addictive smoking, smoking before 13 years old and no attempt to quit cigarette smoking. Lower school life satisfaction and general estimation of life were found among these students. Higher satisfaction on school life (OR = 0.657) and on ordinary life (OR = 0.766) were protecting factors of current smoking but comorbid depression and anxiety were risk factors (OR = 2.181). Higher school life satisfaction (OR = 0.388) seemed to be protecting factor of addictive smoking while depression was risk factor of addictive smoking (OR = 2.753) and regular smoking (OR = 1.676).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Smoking behaviors were common in middle school students and affected by several emotional and cognitive factors of subjective life qualities. Longitudinal designs are required to clarify the causal relationship between these factors and smoking behaviors in adolescents.</p>

Correlation between psychopathological symptoms, coping style in adolescent and childhood repeated physical, emotional maltreatment / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study possible relationship between psychopathological symptoms, positive and negative coping styles in adolescents who experienced repeated serious childhood physical abuse (CPA), moderate CPA, and childhood emotional abuse (CEA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 5453 students were recruited as subjects from 9 middle schools at grades 7, 8, 10, and 11. They provided informed consent and participated in the self-administered anonymous survey on their frequencies of serious or moderate physical abuse and emotional abuse by his/her parents or other caregivers about average times of experiencing maltreatment every year during primary school. The Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used to rate general mental problem and 9 special psychopathological symptoms. The trait positive and negative coping styles were assessed with the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ). Totally 5141 respondents substantially completed surveys. It was defined as repeating childhood maltreatment that the adolescent reported he/she had suffered 3 or more episodes of one or more forms of serious CPA, moderate CPA, and CEA. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of the types and quantities of repeating childhood experiences on mental health when the positive, negative coping styles, and both of them entered the statistics model, taking the demographic variables as covariates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of respondents, 9.1 percent were rated as having general mental health problem. The rates of somatization, obsession, interpersonal susceptivity, depression, anxiety, phobia, paranoia, and psychotic symptoms were 1.3%, 3.6%, 3.6%, 2.8%, 2.2%, 4.0%, 2.1%, 2.8% and 1.6%, respectively. Dose-response trend existed between the number of items of repeating serious CPA, moderate CPA, CEA, and rates of general mental problems, 9 kinds of psychopathological symptoms, number of positive items of psychopathological symptoms. Compared with the respondents without serious CPA, moderate CPA or CEA, those with repeating childhood maltreatment had higher scores of negative coping styles. In the respondents with repeating childhood maltreatments, the prevalence of general mental problems and number of positive psychopathological symptoms increased with the rising of scores of negative coping styles. The results from multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that negative coping style decreased the odds ratio (OR) of repeating serious CPA, moderate CPA, and CEA with general mental health problems, but positive coping style did not.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The experiences of repeating childhood physical or emotional maltreatment are associated with a wide variety of psychopathological symptoms and general mental health problems. Negative coping strategies may moderate the links of childhood abusive experiences and mental problems.</p>