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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Research article

Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Jiayu Li, Jing Li, Ruixia Jia, Yingquan Wang, Sheng Qian, Yong Xu

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

During adolescence, middle school students facing psychophysical changes are vulnerable to psychological problems. The present study aimed to investigate mental health status and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China, which may help to inform effective prevention strategies to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems.

Methods

In the cross-sectional study, a total of 10,131 middle school students were selected from three cities in eastern China by stratified random sampling. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), Teacher–Student Relationship Questionnaire (TSRQ) and Peer Relationship Scale (PRS) were used to evaluate psychological symptoms, the quality of relationship with teachers and the quality of relationship with peers, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between school interpersonal relationships and mental health problems in adolescents.

Results

36% of the middle school students reported positive in mental health problems assessed by the SCL-90. The most prevalent dimensional symptom was obsessive–compulsive (43.3%). The risk of all types of psychological symptoms was significantly associated with school interpersonal relationships. Moreover, a higher risk of mental health problems was associated with poorer school interpersonal relationships.

Conclusions

Mental health problems were prevalent among adolescents and highly associated with school interpersonal relationships. Our findings underscore the pressing need for school administrators to make efforts to improve school interpersonal relationships among adolescents.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Jiayu Li
Jing Li
Ruixia Jia
Yingquan Wang
Sheng Qian
Yong Xu
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6

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