Estimated mental health and analysis of relative factors for new Chinese recruits.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess and analyze influential psychosocial factors in the mental health of new military recruits.


METHODS
A total of 2,734 army recruits were evaluated by using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Trait Meta-Mood Scale.


RESULTS
In general, the army recruits were found to be in a good state of mental health. The SCL-90 scores of the new recruits were significantly higher than those of the normal civilian population (p < 0.01). The new recruits were similar to the normal army population, with notable exceptions in the following three scales: obsessive-compulsive, depression, and anxiety (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Factors that significantly influenced the SCL-90 scores included childhood environment, education level, and parental relationship. Results from the current study also revealed negative associations between the SCL-90 global severity index and the Trait Meta-Mood Scale subscale scores (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The mental health status of army recruits is closely related to their childhood environment, education level, parental relationship, and emotional intelligence. These factors should be considered by mental health workers, to help new army recruits adapt to the new environment.
Yan
Jin
J
Department of Psychology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Wang
Li-Jie
LJ
Cheng
Qi
Q
Miao
Dan-Min
DM
Zhang
Li-Yi
LY
Yuan
Shui-Ping
SP
An
Ting
T
Pan
Yu
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008890:Military Psychiatry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D055815:Young Adult