Exploring the associations between behavioral health risk factors, abnormal eating attitudes and socio-demographic factors among Chinese youth: Survey of 7,984 vocational high school students in Hunan in 2020

Abstract

BackgroundThis study investigated the associations between behavioral health risk factors (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, drinking, smoking) and abnormal eating attitudes among Chinese vocational high school students (CVHSS). Potential moderating relationships were also explored with relevant socio-demographic factors of the student's age, sex, rural or urban community, household income, family type and educational level of the father and mother.MethodsA total of 7,984 students from three vocational high schools in Hunan, China completed a questionnaire about their socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol use, smoking, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress (21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), insomnia (8-item Athens Insomnia Scale), and abnormal eating attitudes (19-item Chinese version of Eating Attitudes Test).ResultsThe prevalence rates for behavioral health problems among these students ranged widely depending on the risk factor: 42.5% insomnia, 41.3% anxiety, 26.2% depression, 14.4% stress, 13.7% drinking, and 8.3% smoking. Additionally, 61.7% of students were at-risk for at least one of these six behavioral health disorders. Abnormal eating attitudes were associated with depression (r = 0.422), anxiety (r = 0.490), stress (r = 0.490), and insomnia (r = 0.375), with all of these relationships being significant (p < 0.01) and large size statistical effects. However, other analyzes found that none of the socio-demographic background factors had meaningful associations with the behavioral health risk factors (0 of 28 tests) and very few background factors were associated with the abnormal eating attitude measures (only 3 of 35 tests). Females had higher levels than males on dieting and bulimia but not on the other two eating attitude components.ConclusionsThis study determined that behavioral health risk factors (sleep problems and anxiety in particular) were common among high school students in China and that mental health and sleep disorder risks also tended to co-occur in some students with abnormal eating attitudes. Therefore, prevention and early identification programs for behavioral risk factors are needed for this population. It is important to pay more attention to students with abnormal eating attitude-related symptoms, who may have also underlying mental health problems and need further evaluation.

The relationship between depressive mood and non-suicidal self-injury among secondary vocational school students: the moderating role of borderline personality disorder tendencies

“…Depressive mood was assessed using the PHQ-9. It contains nine items: (1) anhedonia; (2) depressed mood; (3) trouble sleeping; (4) feeling tired; (5) change in appetite; (6) guilt, self-blame, or worthlessness; (7) trouble concentrating; (8) feeling slowed down or restless; and ( 9) thoughts of being better off dead or hurting oneself (29). Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3 (0 = never, 1 = several days, 2 = more than half the time, and 3 = nearly every day) during the 2 weeks prior to and including the day of survey completion.…”

“…Students will learn vocational skills while in school and will most likely to work directly after graduation rather than pursue further education. Compared with general high schools, secondary vocational students may show more emotional and behavioral problems due to differences in parenting style, academic performance, and sociocultural background ( 7 , 8 ). Students in secondary vocational schools reported higher rates of smoking, drinking, fighting, running away from home, prolonged Internet use, Internet addiction, and sexual activity than students in regular high schools ( 9 , 10 ).Therefore, they need more attention.…”

Effects of BPD tendencies and subjective well-being on NSSI in adolescents with PTSD

“…Chinese secondary vocational students constitute a special group with a large population. Most enter secondary vocational schools because of poor academic performance ( 23 ). Thus, they are regarded by society and even their parents as “undereducated” or “failed” students; therefore, they exhibit self-depreciation and low self-esteem and are more likely to have psychological problems ( 24 ).…”