Impact of adverse childhood experiences and psychological symptoms on health risk behaviors among college students
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026089
- VernacularTitle:大学生童年期不良经历及心理症状对健康危险行为的影响
- Author:
OU Sihan, L Xiaoping, YANG Caiting, DONG Mingming, CHEN Chong, CHEN Yingrong,〖JZ〗 LUO Dan, WANG Boyang, LI Jiajia, JIANG Jicun, LIU Shun
1
Author Information
1. Office of Children s Health and Maternal and Child Health Research, Department of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Life change events;
Mental health;
Dangerous behavior;
Regression analysis;
Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(3):398-402
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health risk behaviors (HRBs) among college students and the mediating role of psychological symptoms, so as to provide a basis for developing intervention strategies.
Methods:From March to April 2023, a convenience cluster sample of 1 801 students from 12 universities in Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, Wuzhou of Guangxi completed an online survey. A self designed questionnaire, Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) were used for evaluation tools. Binary Logistic regression, structural equation modeling (SEM) and Bootstrap methods were used to analyze the associations and mediating effects.
Results:Overall, 71.2% of college students experienced at least one type of ACE, with emotional neglect (40.3%) and emotional abuse ( 25.2 %) having the highest detection rates. The top three HRBs were unhealthy diet (77.8%), physical inactivity (54.1%), and smoking/alcohol use (18.5%). Logistic regression showed that poor family functioning, abuse, and extra familial violence were each associated with an increased risk of smoking/alcohol use ( OR =1.14, 1.11, 1.18) and deliberate self harm ( OR =1.26, 1.19,1.30) (all P <0.05). Experience of abuse increased the risk of high risk sexual behavior and family dysfunction increaded the risk of physical inactivity, respectively ( OR = 1.07 , 1.04, both P <0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that anxiety ( β =0.20) and depression ( β = 0.09 ) partially mediated the pathway from poor family functioning to deliberate self harm; paranoia ( β =0.02) partially mediated the pathway from abuse to high risk sexual behavior; and obsessive-compulsive symptoms ( β =0.26) and depression ( β =0.10) partially mediated the pathway from extra familial violence to deliberate self harm (all P <0.05).
Conclusion:Psychological symptoms play a mediating role in the association between ACEs and HRBs, and mental health interventions may reduce the risk of HRBs among college students.
