A Study on the Risk Factors of Abnormal Mental Health Status in General Physical Examination Population

This study aims to investigate the mental health status of the general population and its risk factors.

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 10278 individuals aged 12 and above who underwent health examinations were included. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and the Stress Self-Assessment Questionnaire-53 (SSQ-53), to collect general information, mental health status, and stress level information. Metabolism-related hematological examinations were also conducted.

Based on the criterion of having a positive total score on the SCL-90 scale and/or a positive score on any factor of the scale, 3394 positive subjects (33.0%) were detected and classified as the abnormal psychological state group (positive group), while the remaining subjects served as the control group. There are differences between the two groups in terms of age (and age structure) and gender (female). The positive group had significantly higher in the SCL-90 total score and each factor score, as well as the SSQ-53 total score and each dimension score (including the proportion of abnormal scores in each dimension) (p<0.001). In the positive group, body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001) and triglycerides (p=0.001) were significantly higher than those in the control group, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.024) was significantly lower. Additionally, the abnormal proportions of BMI (p<0.001), white blood cell (WBC) count (p<0.001), and fasting plasma glucose levels (p=0.006) were significantly higher in the positive group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that adolescents (aged 12-18), females, abnormal BMI (overweight or obesity), and abnormal WBC count were risk factors for positive SCL-90 scores (P<0.05).

There is a strong correlation between chronic metabolic diseases, inflammation, and stress-related mental and psychological disorders, necessitating active management of these physical issues. More attention should be paid to the mental health of women and adolescents.