Psychological distress and its correlates in Chinese adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of severe psychological distress in Chinese adolescents, and to identify the demographic and psychosocial factors associated with psychological distress in this population.


METHODS
A multi-stage stratified sampling procedure was used to select a sample of adolescents (n = 3109) in Heilongjiang Province (Northeast of China), who were aged 13-18 years old. Psychological distress was measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). A K10 score between 22 and 30 was defined as moderate psychological distress; a score of >or= 31 was defined as severe psychological distress in this study.


RESULTS
The rates of moderate and severe psychological distress were 27.9% and 12.2%, respectively in the participants. There were no statistical differences in severe psychological distress by gender. Multivariate analysis showed that family environmental variables, schooling variables, self-perception with life and appearance, perceived health and negative life events were significantly associated with psychological distress.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe psychological distress is prevalent in the Chinese adolescent population. Family dysfunction, higher academic pressure, poor relationship with others and negative self-perception are important risk factors associated with psychological distress in adolescents. More studies using the K10 scale are needed so that national and international comparisons can be made.
Huang
Jun Ping
JP
Department of Children's and Adolescent Health, Public Health College of Harbin Medical University, Nangang District, Harbin, China.
Xia
Wei
W
Sun
Cai Hong
CH
Zhang
Hui Ying
HY
Wu
Li Jie
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires