Predictive analysis of personality factors of undergraduate students on mental health problems

This study explored the relationship between personality traits and positive mental health symptoms among college students and suggested strategies to improve their mental health. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Cattell's 16 Personality Test (16PF) were administered to 8315 students. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess their mental health and personality traits. We observed that 9.95 % of the participants had positive total scores on the SCL-90. Compulsive symptoms (18.35 %), interpersonal sensitivity (11.35 %), and depression (9.86 %) had the highest positive rates. Our SCL-90 sample scores were significantly lower than the Chinese adult norm sample scores (p < .05). A linear regression analysis between the 16PF factor scores of positively screened individuals and their SCL-90 scores revealed that the average total score was positively associated with worrying and aggressiveness, and negatively with intelligence and stability. Based on linear regression analyses of the 16PF factor scores of individuals with positive obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and depressive symptoms, and the corresponding factors on the SCL-90, the following associations were established: obsessive symptoms were positively associated with stress, worrying, and skepticism, and negatively with self-discipline and stability. Interpersonal sensitivity was positively associated with worrying and skepticism, and negatively with stability and experimental personality factor. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with worrying, skepticism, and aggressiveness, and negatively with stability. Students' personality traits can be adjusted through mental health education to improve their mental health, such as by reducing anxiety and enhancing stability. Furthermore, targeted training can be conducted for different psychological problems.