Analysis on physical and mental health and related influential factors among those ‘left behind ’ adolescents in Anhui province / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the physical and mental health status on the ‘left behind ’ students in Anhui province and the related influential factors.Methods Stratified cluster sampling method was used to investigate the 682 out of 3421 students from 7 middle schools in both south and north Anhui province,using multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescents (MSQA) and mental health test (MHT),for assessment of the general condition,physical and mental health status.Results 14.22％ of the ‘left behind’ students were in sub-health condition compared to 11.28％ among the normal students,and the mental sub-health status represented 13.64％ for the former and 10.84％ for the latter.In addition,the ‘left behind’ students appeared less content with their life than those of staying with their parents (P＜0.05).MHT scores in the subjects were positively correlated with the scores on MSQA and showed significant difference (P＜0.01).Results from the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the mental health condition among the left behind students was in linear regression relationship with the decreased physical activity (β =1.456,P=0.001 ),emotional problems (β =1.096,P=0.000 ) and problems of social adaptation (β=1.011,P=0.006).The status of physical sub-health in the Anhui province showed that there was no significant difference in each of the study group (P＞0.05).Conclusion Decreased physical activity and emotion aporia as well as difficult social adaptation were major factors leading to degenerated mental health levels in the‘left-behind’ adolescents.The findings suggested that the mental health status could be improved inthis population through better management on their body-health condition.