|
1
|
Huang X, Wang X, Hu J, Xue Y, Wei Y, Wan Y, Song X, Wang R, Zhang B, Fang J, Zhang S. Inadequate Mental Health Literacy and Insufficient Physical Activity Potentially Increase the Risks of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese College Students. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:753695. [PMID: 34867541 PMCID: PMC8637166 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.753695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the interactive associations between physical activity and mental health literacy with anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2020. A total of 7,512 students were recruited from two medical colleges in Hefei and Anqing city in Anhui Province, China. Physical activity, mental health literacy, anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured by self-reported validated instruments. Analyses were conducted with logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms was 8.6% and 16.4%, respectively. Insufficient physical activity was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.359, 95%CI 1.184-1.561) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.492, 95%CI: 1.237-1.799). Inadequate mental health literacy was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 3.089, 95%CI: 2.607-3.662) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 3.675, 95%CI: 2.861-4.721). Low physical activity rank (OR = 1.438, 95%CI: 1.151-1.798) was significantly related with depressive symptoms but not anxiety symptoms. The students who had inadequate mental health literacy and insufficient physical activity had the highest risks of depressive symptoms (OR = 5.049, 95% CI: 3.649-6.987) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 5.270, 95% CI: 3.338-8.321). Conclusion: These finding indicated that Chinese college students having insufficient physical activity and inadequate mental health literacy are at risk of exhibiting anxiety and depressive symptoms. Early intervention programs for college students with mental health problems should be considered to enhance their mental health literacy and to increase their physical activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuexue Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanni Xue
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yanyan Wei
- Department of Infectious Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuhui Wan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xianbing Song
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Information Technology Office, Anqing Medical College, Anqing, China
| | - Bao Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Clinical Nutriology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Sojo University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shichen Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Management, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|