RESUMO
Objective@#To explore the changes of mental health of impoverished college students from the first year to the last year, to provide reference for improving mental health of impoverished college students.@*Methods@#The cluster sampling method was used to conduct a longitudinal follow up survey in October of each year from 2018 to 2021. Mental health status of 403 impoverished and 3 559 non impoverished college students in a university from Dongguan in 2018 grade was assessed using the SCL-90 scale.@*Results@#During the past four years, mental health status of poor college students has significantly improved by year, and both the total and positive mean scores of SCL-90 were reduced ( F =106.60, 96.37 , P <0.01). Sex difference in mental health score among poor college students gradually decreased over time. In the first two years, total score, positive score, somatization, depression, anxiety, phobia factor scores were higher than male students ( t =-3.97--2.21, P <0.05), while since the third year in college, no similar differences in SCL-90 total mean score, positive average, average score of most factors and detection rate were observed ( P >0.05). In the past four years, there was also no significant difference between poor and non poor college students in mental health score ( P >0.05).@*Conclusion@#For the past 4 years, the mental health status of poor college students has significantly improved. The sex difference in mental health status among poor college students, and between poor and non poor college students gradually disappear. Subsequent researchers should explore more positive psychological characteristics of poor students from the perspective of positive psychology.