Increasing Trends in Mental Health Problems Among Urban Chinese Adolescents: Results From Repeated Cross-Sectional Data in Changsha 2016–2020

Zhipeng Wu; Zhipeng Wu; Biao Wang; Biao Wang; Zhibiao Xiang; Zhibiao Xiang; Zhulin Zou; Zhulin Zou; Zhening Liu; Zhening Liu; Yicheng Long; Yicheng Long; Xudong Chen; Xudong Chen

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.829674

Frontiers in Public Health (Feb 2022)

Increasing Trends in Mental Health Problems Among Urban Chinese Adolescents: Results From Repeated Cross-Sectional Data in Changsha 2016–2020

Zhipeng Wu,
Zhipeng Wu,
Biao Wang,
Biao Wang,
Zhibiao Xiang,
Zhibiao Xiang,
Zhulin Zou,
Zhulin Zou,
Zhening Liu,
Zhening Liu,
Yicheng Long,
Yicheng Long,
Xudong Chen,
Xudong Chen

Affiliations

Zhipeng Wu: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Zhipeng Wu: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Biao Wang: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Biao Wang: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Zhibiao Xiang: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Zhibiao Xiang: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Zhulin Zou: The High School Attached to Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
Zhulin Zou: Bocai Experimental School, Changsha, China
Zhening Liu: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Zhening Liu: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Yicheng Long: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Yicheng Long: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Xudong Chen: National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
Xudong Chen: Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.829674
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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This study performed a repeated cross-sectional analysis to explore possible trends in mental health problems among Chinese adolescents over the years of 2016–2020. A total of 2,837 different seventh-grade students were surveyed in three waves from a junior high school in Changsha city, Hunan province in China (978 in 2016, 949 in 2019, and 910 in 2020) using the Mental Health Inventory of Middle School Students (MMHI-60). The results showed that obsessive-compulsive tendencies, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, academic stress, and emotional disturbance problems were significantly increased in surveyed adolescents from 2016 to 2020. Moreover, positive rates of most of these problems were significantly higher in females than males, and were significantly increased in only females. These results highlight the importance of focusing on mental health problems among urban Chinese adolescents, especially among girls.

Published in Frontiers in Public Health

ISSN: 2296-2565 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health

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