Association between mental health and muscle strength among Chinese adolescents aged 13-18
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025285
- VernacularTitle:中国13~18岁青少年心理健康及其与肌肉力量的关联
- Author:
YANG Ruolan, CAI Shan, MA Ning, DANG Jiajia, LIU Yunfei, ZHANG Yihang, CHEN Ziyue, LI Jiaxin, HUANG Tianyu, LU Lili, SUN Ziyue, YANG Yang, HU Peijin, MA Jun, SONG Yi
1
Author Information
1. School of Public Health/Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Mental health;
Muscle strength;
Regression analysis;
Adolescent
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(9):1232-1236
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the association between mental health and muscle strength among Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18, providing a theoretical foundation and intervention strategies for mental health promotion.
Methods:Data were obtained from the 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health, including 98 631 Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18. Psychological distress was assessed by using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and mental well being was measured with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well being Scale (WEMWBS). Based on the gender and age specific Z scores of various test items [grip strength, standing long jump, pull ups (for males), and sit ups (for females)], muscle strength index (MSI) was constructed to evaluate the comprehensive level of muscle strength in adolescents. According to the Dual factor Model (DFM) of mental health, participants were categorized into four groups:troubled, symptomatic but content, vulnerable, and complete mental health. Gender differences were analyzed by using Chi-square tests, trends were tested with Cochran-Armitage tests, and multinomial Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between muscle strength and mental health among adolescents.
Results:In 2019, 37.4% of Chinese adolescents aged 13-18 were reported of high mental distress, and 59.9% were reported of low mental well being. Boys had significantly lower rates of high mental distress (35.3%) and low mental well being (55.6%) compared to girls (39.4%, 64.3%), and the differences were of statistical significance ( χ 2=176.13, 780.42, both P <0.05). In 2019, the rate of complete mental health among adolescents showed a downward trend with increasing age ( χ 2 trend = 258.47) and a gradual upward trend with increasing muscle strength levels ( χ 2 trend =123.14)，and both boys and girls exhibited similar trends ( χ 2 trend =103.83, 168.46; 57.00 , 67.34) (all P <0.05). The results of the unordered multiclass Logistic regression model showed that after controlling for confounding factors such as age and gender, when the completely pathological group as a reference, for every 1 unit increase in MSI in adolescents, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 29% ( OR = 1.29); for every unit increase in the Z-score for pull ups, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 6% ( OR =1.06) among boys; for every 1 unit increase in sit up Z score, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 19% ( OR =1.19) among girls (all P <0.05).
Conclusions:The mental health status of Chinese adolescents is not good enough. Muscle strength is positively associated with mental health.
