Larsen Finn Breinholt, Lasgaard Mathias, Willert Morten Vejs, Sørensen Jes Bak
DEFACTUM, Central Denmark Region, Aarhus, Denmark.
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 16;20(1):e0316759. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316759. eCollection 2025.
We aimed to 1) identify distinct segments within the general population characterized by various combinations of stressors (stressor profiles) and to 2) examine the socio-demographic composition of these segments and their associations with perceived stress levels.
Segmentation was carried out by latent class analysis of nine self-reported stressors in a representative sample of Danish adults (N = 32,417) aged 16+ years. Perceived stress level was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).
Seven classes were identified: Class 1 was labeled Low Stressor Burden (64% of the population) and the remaining six classes, which had different stressor combinations, were labeled: 2) Burdened by Financial, Work, and Housing Stressors (10%); 3) Burdened by Disease and Death among Close Relatives (9%); 4) Burdened by Poor Social Support and Strained Relationships (8%); 5) Burdened by Own Disease (6%); 6) Complex Stressor Burden Involving Financial, Work, and Housing Stressors (2%); and 7) Complex Stressor Burden Involving Own Disease and Disease and Death among Close Relatives (2%). Being female notably increased the likelihood of belonging to Classes 2, 3, 5, and 7. Higher age increased the likelihood of belonging to Class 3. Low educational attainment increased the likelihood of belonging to Classes 5 and 6. A significant difference was observed in perceived stress levels between the seven latent classes. Average PSS varied from 9.0 in Class 1 to 24.2 in Class 7 and 25.0 in Class 6.
Latent class analysis allowed us to identify seven population segments with various stressor combinations. Six of the segments had elevated perceived stress levels but differed in terms of socioeconomic composition and stressor combinations. These insights may inform a strategy aimed at improving mental health in the general population by targeting efforts to particular population segments, notably segments experiencing challenging life situations.
我们旨在1）识别普通人群中以各种应激源组合（应激源概况）为特征的不同亚组，以及2）研究这些亚组的社会人口学构成及其与感知应激水平的关联。
通过对16岁及以上丹麦成年人代表性样本（N = 32,417）中自我报告的9种应激源进行潜在类别分析来进行分组。感知应激水平通过感知应激量表（PSS）进行测量。
识别出七个类别：类别1被标记为低应激源负担（占人群的64%），其余六个具有不同应激源组合的类别被标记为：2）受财务、工作和住房应激源困扰（10%）；3）受近亲疾病和死亡困扰（9%）；4）受社会支持不足和关系紧张困扰（8%）；5）受自身疾病困扰（6%）；6）涉及财务、工作和住房应激源的复杂应激源负担（2%）；7）涉及自身疾病以及近亲疾病和死亡的复杂应激源负担（2%）。女性明显更有可能属于类别2、3、5和7。年龄较大增加了属于类别3的可能性。教育程度低增加了属于类别5和6的可能性。在七个潜在类别之间观察到感知应激水平存在显著差异。平均PSS从类别1的9.0到类别7的24.2以及类别6的25.0不等。
潜在类别分析使我们能够识别出七个具有不同应激源组合的人群亚组。其中六个亚组的感知应激水平升高，但在社会经济构成和应激源组合方面存在差异。这些见解可能为一项旨在通过针对特定人群亚组，特别是经历具有挑战性生活状况的亚组开展工作来改善普通人群心理健康的策略提供信息。
