A comparative study of mental health among Medical school students of different ethnic groups in different ethnic minority areas

Abstract

Objective To compare the mental health among students of the Han, Yi, Hani, Dai, Lahu and Wa nationalities in Pu'er Health school and provide the basis for mental health education of minorities. Methods A total of 2894 students of grade one and two, which are the Han, Yi, Hani, Dai, Lahu and Wa nationalities of Puer health school in Yunnan Provinc, were tested with SCL-90.And then an analysis was carried out by the characteristics among different nationalities on mental health. Results ①The psychological problem's ratio of minorities in Health school students was 40.3%.Detection rate of psychological problems in descending order is Wa 48 (55.8%), Dai 75 (41.4%), Yi 258 (41.0%), Hani, 182 (40.2%), Han 557 (39.1% ) and Lahu 46 (38.3%). The factor scores in descending order were obsessive-compulsive (38.6%), interpersonal sensitivity (33.2%), phobic anxiety (27.5%), hostility (25.3%), depression (23.6%), anxiety (22.4%), paranoid ideation (21.9%), psychotism (17.4%) and somatization (13.7%). ②The ratio of psychological problems among different nationalities had shown significant differences (P<0.05, P<0.01) except for hostility factor.③In SCL-90, the scores of minority medical school students were all higher than those in the national youth norm.There existed significant differences among the most factor scores of SCL-90 (P<0.01, P<0.05). ④The mental health of Wa was the worst.While, the mental health of Yi and Lahu were better than other ethnic groups. Conclusion The mental health of minorities medical school students is not optimistic.Therefore, the mental health education should be strengthened in the minority medical school students. Key words: Minority; Health school students; Mental health; Comparative study