OBJECTIVETo investigate the current status of social anxiety and depression among the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students in Urumqi, China, and to provide data support for mental health education for primary school students in the future.

METHODSStratified cluster random sampling was performed to select 919 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students from four primary schools for the Han and minority ethnic groups in Urumqi as research subjects. Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Children's Depression Inventory were used to evaluate the current status of social anxiety and depression.

RESULTSAmong the 919 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students, the detection rate of social anxiety was 28.5% (262 students). The fourth-grade students had significantly lower scores on each subscale of social anxiety and total score of social anxiety than the fifth- and sixth-grade students (P<0.05). Girls had significantly higher score on the subscale of fear of negative evaluation and total score of social anxiety than boys (P<0.05). The Uyghur students had significantly higher scores on each subscale of social anxiety and total score of social anxiety than the Han students and the students of other minority ethnic groups (P<0.05). Among these fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students, the detection rate of depression was 11.2% (103 students). The fourth-grade students had significantly lower scores on the subscales of negative self-esteem, ineffectiveness, and interpersonal problems and total score of depression than the fifth- and sixth-grade students (P<0.05). The Uyghur students had significantly higher scores on the subscales of anhedonia and negative mood and total score of depression than the Han students and the students of other minority ethnic groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant differences in the status of social anxiety and depression among the primary school students with different grades, sexes or ethnic groups in Urumqi. The fifth- and sixth-grade students, girls, and Uyghur students tend to have more serious psychological problems, which should be taken seriously by parents, schools, and the society.