[Study on the psychosocial status and related factors in three universities during severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Beijing].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the psychosocial status and related factors among university students during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Beijing.


METHODS
By means of stratified cluster sampling, symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) and questionnaire on general information were applied among 6800 students in three universities in Beijing.


RESULTS
There were 6280 valid questionnaires gathered. In order to control and prevent SARS, strict management was conducted in three universities which providing various social supports. Out of the 6280 students, 460 had SCL-90 positive symptoms with a rate of 7.3%. Risk factors of SCL-90 positive symptom were found as follows: major in arts (OR = 2.00), misconception on the control and prevention of SARS (OR = 1.91), considering measures non-effective (OR = 2.25), and do not believe that SARS can be under control (OR = 3.57). Protective factors of SCL-90 positive symptom would include as: being female (OR = 0.77), being graduate students (OR = 0.38), and being not much influenced on study and daily life during the period of strict management (OR = 0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial status of students was influenced by their knowledge and attitude on SARS. Various social supports might keep the university students to having a healthy psychosocial status.
Division of Social Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhao-rui
ZR
Liu
Yue-qin
YQ
Huang
Wei-min
WM
Dang
Mian
M
Liu
Shu-ran
SR
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011790:Quarantine / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities