ABSTRACT
Background: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and duration of physical exercise are strongly associated with physical health. Unfortunately, there are few studies focused on the association with psychological symptoms, let alone Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China. Methods: A stratified cluster sampling method was used to include 8,268 Tibetan university students aged 19-22 years in Qinghai and Tibet, both of which are high-altitude regions of China. Self-assessment questionnaires on SSBs, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms were administered. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the associations among them. Results: The detection rate of psychological symptoms among Tibetan university students in high-altitude areas of China was 16.7%, with in girls (18.2%) higher than that in boys (14.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 11.73, p < 0.01). The proportion of SSBs for university students ≤1 time/week, 2-5 times/week, and ≥ 6 times/week were 54.2, 24.3, and 21.5%, respectively. The proportion of duration of physical exercise for >60 min/d was only 5.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the SSBs ≤1 time/week group of university students, SSBs 2-5 times/week (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24-1.70) and ≥ 6 times/week (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 2.62-3.57) had an increased risk of psychological symptoms (p < 0.001). In the reference group, the risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the group of university students with duration of physical exercise >60 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48-2.93), and the risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the group with duration of physical exercise <30 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48-2.93). The risk of psychological symptoms was also significantly increased in the university students with the duration of physical exercise <30 min/d (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.48 ~ 2.93) group. Conclusion: SSBs and exercise time may be important influences on the psychological symptoms of Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China. This study has important implications for mental health planning in universities in highland areas and may also provide guidance for mental health interventions for Tibetan university students.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To understand the symptoms of depression and anxiety among rural returning adolescents and to analyze their association with physical activity related factors, so as to provide reference for interventions targeting depression and anxiety symtoms in the population.@*Methods@#From April to June 2020, 3 495 middle school students were selected from 6 counties and districts of Shangrao City by random cluster stratified sampling sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to evaluate the depressive and anxiety symptoms among middle school students. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess their physical activity levels during the past week. Chi square test and Logistic regression analysis were used to determine the strength of the association between depression and anxiety symptoms and physical activity related factors in returning and non returning adolescents as well as the overall population.@*Results@#Univariate analysis showed significant differences in the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms between rural returning and non returning adolescents and the overall population in terms of "type of school" "family economic situation" "parental occupation" "number of sports classes per week" and "level of physical activity per week" ( χ 2=78.21, 16.56, 135.44, 107.75, 7.10, 8.62; 97.94, 24.26 , 124.07, 90.36, 9.60, 8.34, P <0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed a correlation between the occurrence of depression and the number of sports classes per week for rural returning and non returning adolescents and the overall population (number of sports classes per week for non returning was 2 times, OR=1.22, 95%CI =1.01-1.49; returning adolescents for 1 time, OR=1.85, 95%CI =1.06-3.23; the overall population for 1 time, OR=1.34, 95%CI =1.01-1.77 and 2 times, OR=1.20, 95%CI =1.01-1.43, P <0.05). There was a correlation between anxiety symptoms and the number of sports classes per week for returning adolescents (number of sports classes per week for returning adolescents was 1 time, OR=2.10, 95%CI=1.21-3.63, P < 0.05 ).@*Conclusion@#A low frequency of weekly sports classes may be a risk factor for depressive or anxiety symptoms in rural and returning adolescents. Rural primary and secondary schools should appropriately increase the number of physical education courses or arrange sports extended classes to promote the development of adolescent mental health.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the association between interaction effects of dietary behaviors and caregivers s type on overweight or obesity among left-behind children, and to provide a reference for overweight or obesity prevention among the left-behind children.@*Methods@#From October to December 2018, 877 left-behind children aged 7-18 years were randomly selected from a stratified cluster in county, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province.Type of caregives, dietary behavior, health status were collected from questionnaires, height, weight were examined.@*Results@#The detection rate of overweight and obesity in left-behind children was 21.7%(190/877), and the rate of overweight and obese left-behind children with other foster parents was 29.8%(158/530), higher than the rate of 16.2%(32/198). The detection rate of overweight and obesity of left-behind children who consumed high level of western fast food was 59.0%(59/100). There were significant differences in rate of overweight and obesity by type of caregiver and western food consumption. Regression analysis showed that the detection rate of overweight and obesity of left-behind children who often ate western fast food was 5.70 times(95%CI=3.62-8.99) high than that of those who seldom ate western fast food. Interaction analysis showed that the interaction(synergistic effect) of the type of adopter × whether the adopter often ate western fast food(father or mother × yes) presents a positive multiplying interaction(synergistic effect). Left-behind children under paternal or maternal care together with high western fast food consumption greatly increased the risk of overweight and obesity(OR=6.94, 95%CI=2.76-17.44).@*Conclusion@#Frequent consumption of western fast food together with one parent stay at home is associated with overweight and obesity of left-behind children. These two factors have a synergistic effect, which greatly increases the risk of overweight and obesity of left-behind children. In other words, their interaction is a major risk factor.