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. 2021 Dec 3;18(23):12742.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312742.

Mental Health Outcomes among Chinese College Students over a Decade

Sibo Zhao  1 , Jie Zhang  1   2 , Lisu Peng  1 , Wenhui Yang  1
Affiliations

Mental Health Outcomes among Chinese College Students over a Decade

Sibo Zhao et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Economic growth in China has brought about significant social and psychological changes in society.

Objective: This study aims to explore how the mental and psychological health of college students has changed over the past decade.

Methods: We observed several cohort samples in a Chinese university over a decade and looked at five mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, depression, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support, throughout each year of testing.

Results: Our study highlights the declining rates of suicidal ideation and depression, combined with relative stability and even small increases in optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support across a range of demographic variables.

Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that in the context of economic growth, stabilizing and improving positive mental health states can help prevent and reduce the risk of depression and suicidal ideation among college students. The study also highlighted the need for more public health campaigns and interventions in universities to help students cope with mental health problems.

Keywords: China; college students; depression; optimism; self-esteem; suicidal ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The trend of suicidal ideation and depression from 2007 to 2015.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support from 2007 to 2015.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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