[Psychopathological Sub-Healthy Status As Predictor on Self-or Unintentional Injuries among Chinese Adolescents: a School-Based Follow-Up Study].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association between psychological sub-healthy status and risks on injuries and related predictors among adolescents in China, in order to develop reasonable intervention programs.METHODS:Adolescents were selected from middle schools and colleges in eight cities. Baseline status on sub-healthy that related to psycho-pathology was measured using the Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA). Data on Self- or unintentional injuries were collected using a standardized injury surveillance questionnaire every 3 months, for three times (T0, T1, T2 and T3).RESULTS:A total of 12 113 students completed the study. Prevalence rates related to self-injury among boys and girls were 19.4% and 19.9%, respectively. The rates of having more than 4 types of self-injuries in boys and girls were 4.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Boys had a significantly higher unintentional injury rate than that of girls (62.2% vs. 57.3%). The differences in the rates of having more than 4 types of unintentional injury between boys (3.8%) and girls (3.4%) were also statistically significant. Rates on self- and unintentional-injuries increased in T1, T2 and T3 when the psychological symptoms had an increase. Data from Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the baseline psychological sub-healthy status was a predictive factor for higher risk of self- and unintentional-injuries at each of the follow-up waves.CONCLUSION:Sub-healthy status of psycho-pathology was associated with an increased risk on self- and unintentional injuries among adolescents. Integrative psycho-pathological and behavioral intervention programs might help in reducing the risk of injuries among the Chinese adolescents.