OBJECTIVETo explore the stress related problems and risk factors among urban residents in the social transition period.

METHODSSamples including 3 666 subjects came from Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Taiyuan under multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected through a household interviewing survey. Stress was measured by the Chinese Perceived Stress Scales (CPSS). Distribution of health risk stress (HRS), high level stress were described along the demographic dimension. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to identify the predictors of HRS.

RESULTSCPSS was found to have good validity and reliability among this study sample. The mean score for the total sample was 24.22 +/- 5.81 and the overall prevalence of HRS was 44.54% (95% CI: 42.90 - 46.12). The difference between male (42.95%) and female (46.30%) was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The rate of HRS decreased with age, with the highest rate (59.29%) among those less than 21 years old. The rate of HRS also decreased as educational level increased and differed significantly by occupation. High school students, people who had never been employed and those who had lost their jobs had the highest rates of HRS. The rate of HRS was also related to marriage status, household's economic level, and the level of the social engagement of the subjects.

CONCLUSIONStress experienced by the urban residents became a serious health problem which requires special attention to be paid to certain subgroups in the population.