Association between college students biological rhythms and their trajectory of change with anxiety and depressive symptoms
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026228
- VernacularTitle:大学生生物节律及其变化轨迹与焦虑抑郁症状的关联
- Author:
ZHU Hui, RUAN Ziyan, LI Tingting, TAO Shuman, SUN Xuelian, FAN Meng, ZOU Liwei, TAO Fangbiao, WU Xiaoyan
1
Author Information
1. School of Marxism, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Biological rhythm；Anxiety；Depression；Mental health；Regression analysis；Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(8):1161-1165
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the longitudinal association between biological rhythm trajectories and the risk of anxiety, depression, and comorbid symptoms among college students, so as to provide a cumulative empirical basis for early psychiatric tracking and mental health warning systems.
Methods:Using random cluster sampling method, a baseline survey was conducted from April to May 2019. One comprehensive university and one medical university were selected in Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, and Hefei City, Anhui Province, respectively. A total of 1 029 first year college students were recruited as study participants, and four waves of longitudinal follow up were carried out over a period of two years. The Self rating of Biological Rhythm Disorder for Adolescents was used to assess college students biological rhythms, and using the dynamic data from the first two follow ups to construct the trajectory of biological rhythm changes. Mental health outcomes (anxiety and depressive symptoms) at the end of the follow up period were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Multivariable Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the independent predictive value of distinct lifestyle rhythm trajectories on the detection risk of long term anxiety, depression, and their comorbid symptoms.
Results:The prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and comorbid symptoms among participants were 23.5%, 22.6%, and 16.7%, respectively. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors such as sex, major, smoking, and alcohol consumption, compared with the persistent low risk reference group of overall biological rhythm, the persistent high risk trajectory group of overall assessment had an increased risk of anxiety symptoms( OR=3.87, 95%CI =2.45-6.11), depressive symptoms( OR=3.18, 95%CI =1.98-5.10), and comorbid symptoms( OR=2.43, 95%CI =1.46-4.04)(all P ＜0.05).Among college students in the elevated overall assessment risk group, the risks of anxiety symptoms ( OR=1.97, 95%CI =1.22-3.17), depressive symptoms ( OR=2.13, 95%CI =1.33-3.42), and comorbid symptoms ( OR=1.81, 95%CI =1.07-3.06) were also increased (all P <
0. 05), and the various risks in the group with increased risks were also higher than those in the group with consistently low risks.
Conclusions:The dynamic deterioration and persistent disruption of college students lifestyle and behavioral rhythms serve as strong early warning indicators for long term anxiety and depressive symptoms. Mental health screening in colleges and universities should incorporate multi timepoint dynamic tracking of behavioral rhythms, and circadian rhythm regulation should be regarded as a core target for group level mental health interventions.
