[Association of sub-health symptoms with family environment factors in middle school students in Bengbu District].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of psychosomatic sub-health symptoms in middle school students and to explore the related family factors affecting the sub-health symptoms.

METHODS

Based on stratified, random cluster sampling method, 2 910 students from 6 middle schools in Bengbu district were sampled. Questionnaire on demographic characteristics and family factors, and the multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescents (MSQA) were used to investigate the risk factors of sub-health symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overall sub-health symptoms was reported in 64.0% of students, physical symptoms was reported in 13.6% of the students, and the rates of physical inactivity, physiological dysfunction and immunity decline were in 53.0%, 68.7% and 55.0% of students respectively. Mental sub-health symptoms were reported in 55.4% of students, emotional symptoms, behavioral symptoms and social adaptation problems were reported in 78.4%, 51.5% and 85.6% of students respectively. There was an increase in the prevalence of self-reported sub-health symptoms with the increase of the grade (P < 0.05), boys were more likely to report sub-health symptoms than girls (65.7% vs. 62.0%, P < 0.05). The main family factors affecting sub-health symptom of students were the health status of their parents and major accompanying persons.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence rate of sub-health symptoms in middle school students was very high and increased with the length of time and the grade at school. The risk factors for sub-health symptoms of students were the lower health level of their parents and not their parents accompanying them.