ABSTRACT
Cross-sectional studies indicate that menstrual problems are related to poorer mental health; however, longitudinal studies are limited. This longitudinal study aimed to determine whether baseline menstrual characteristics were risk factors for incident and persistent mental health problems. The study was conducted among Chinese adolescent girls. Menstrual characteristics including menarche, menstrual cycle and menstrual pain were assessed at baseline, whereas mental health problems including PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, psychotic-like experiences, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt were assessed at baseline (n = 1039) and at the 1-year follow-up (n = 946) by self-administered, structured questionnaires. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to examine whether menstrual characteristics were associated with incident (e.g., PTSD at follow-up but not baseline) and persistent (e.g., PTSD at both time points) mental health problems. The results demonstrated that early menarche was related to persistence of psychotic-like experiences; irregular menstruation was associated with higher rates of incident anxiety and insomnia, and persistent depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide plan; menstrual pain was associated with elevated rates of incident PTSD and depression, and persistent depression, insomnia, psychotic-like experiences, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt. In conclusion, irregular menstruation and menstrual pain specifically contributed to the development of emotional problems and insomnia, and were associated with maintenance of the most mental health problems in early adolescence. The long-term effects of menstrual problems on mental health need further study.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Humans , Female , Adolescent , Longitudinal Studies , China/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Suicidal Ideation , Risk Factors , Menstruation Disturbances/epidemiology , Menstruation Disturbances/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical data , Suicide, Attempted/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Dysmenorrhea/epidemiology , Dysmenorrhea/psychology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Menarche/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Child , Mental Health , Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/psychology , Menstrual Cycle/psychology , Menstrual Cycle/physiology , East Asian PeopleABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) in a sample of Chinese adolescents (1382 boys, 1445 girls) aged 11 to 18 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess factor structure, as well as, measurement invariance across demographic groups and clinical symptoms. The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the original five-factor model. Configural, metric and scalar invariance of the five-factor model were also supported by gender, age, ethnicity, residence, parental education level, depression and anxiety status. Furthermore, all five subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach alphas > 0.75) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients > 0.45). Finally, the five factors were positively related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability and negatively related to positive childhood experiences and life satisfaction, indicating excellent validity. The findings provide initial evidence that the MCQ-30 is a valid measure for use in Chinese adolescents.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dissociation remains a controversial topic in terms of its prevalence, cross-cultural validity, and relationship with childhood trauma and adversities. AIMS: This study investigated the prevalence of dissociative symptoms and probable dissociative disorders among Chinese high school students and tested the trauma model of dissociation. METHODS: A total of N = 1,720 high school students completed standardized measures of positive and adverse childhood experiences (PCEs and ACEs), dissociation, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of dissociative symptoms and (probable) DSM-5 dissociative disorders (DDs) were 11.2% and 6.9%, respectively. Dissociation was a reliable construct (ICC = .682 to .752, p < .001) and was moderately correlated with general psychopathology (r = .424 with depressive symptoms, r = .423 with anxiety symptoms). Participants with a probable DD reported more ACEs, fewer PCEs, and more mental health symptoms than those without a probable DD. ACEs were significantly associated with dissociative symptoms (ß = .107, p < .001) even after controlling for age, depressive, and anxiety symptoms. PCEs moderated the relationship between ACEs and dissociative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the prevalence of dissociative symptoms and probable DSM-5 DDs among nonclinical children. We provide cross-cultural evidence that dissociation is a reliable and valid clinical phenomenon associated with psychopathology in children across cultures. The findings partly support the trauma model of dissociation. This study contributes to the limited literature on dissociation in children. It also offers empirical data to facilitate the ongoing controversy about (childhood) trauma and dissociation. Our findings imply that dissociation is cross-culturally associated with childhood adversities, but trauma is not the only, sufficient cause. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.