Subgrouping military personnel on Paracel Islands using SCL-90 and cluster analysis

Abstract

Objective To identify distinct subgroups of military personnel from Paracel Islands based on mental status for providing basis to intervention measures. Methods 174 enlisted military personnel were interviewed by symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90). The factor scores of SCL-90 were compared with army man norm and control group, then the cluster analysis was conducted. Results Interpersonal sensitivity, phobic and psychoticism of military personnel on Paracel Islands((1.65±0.56), (1.24±0.33), (1.44±0.46)) scored lower than those of army man norm (P 0.05), while other factors of them scored higher than control. According to cluster analysis, 174 military personnel were divided into three subgroups. The first subgroup with high scores for all nine SCL-90-R dimensions, the second cluster showed moderate scores and the third cluster had lowest scores. Statistically significant sociodemographic differences could be found between the cluster groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The mental health status of military personnel stationed in Paracel Islands is good on the whole, and can be divided into three clusters with different demographic and service characteristics. Key words: Paracel Islands; Military personnel; SCL-90; Cluster analysis