Association between mental health status and adverse childhood experiences among sexual minority college students in Guangxi
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025308
- VernacularTitle:广西性少数大学生心理健康状况与童年期不良经历的关联
- Author:
DONG Mingming, WEN Junshang, HUANG Dongping, LIU Hui, LIANG Ran
1
Author Information
1. School of Marxism, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Mental health;
Life change events;
Regression analysis;
Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(10):1396-1400
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the association between mental health status and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among sexual minority college students, so as to provide a scientific basis for mental health education and health promotion in universities.
Methods:From January to February 2024, convenience and cluster sampling methods were used to select 1 792 college students from 11 colleges in Guangxi. A self reporting method was applied to identify 476 sexual minority individuals. The Symptom Check-List 90 (SCL-90) and the Simplified Chinese Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (SC-ACE-IQ) were employed to assess mental health and ACEs. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations.
Results:The detection rates of all psychological issues among sexual minority college students in Guangxi were significantly higher than those of non sexual minority college students ( χ 2=56.01-91.39, all P <0.01). Except for physical neglect, bullying, and community violence, sexual minority students exhibited higher reporting rates of other ACEs types compared to nonsexual minority students ( χ 2= 4.52-13.34, all P <0.05). The total ACEs score for college students was 1.00 (1.00, 2.00), while the SCL-90 total score was 96.00 (113.00, 160.00). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between ACEs total scores and SCL-90 total scores ( r=0.29, P <0.05). Additionally, all ACEs subscales, including emotional neglect, physical neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, parental loss, domestic violence, and community violence were positively correlated with corresponding SCL-90 subscale scores ( r =0.05-0.22, all P <0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that family violence increased the risk of mental health issues for sexual minority students ( OR=1.61, 95%CI =1.26-2.09); emotional neglect ( OR= 1.05 , 95%CI =1.00-1.10), physical neglect ( OR=1.20, 95%CI =1.06-1.35), sexual abuse ( OR=1.49, 95%CI =1.15-1.93) increased mental health risks for non sexual minority students (all P <0.05). The cumulative effects of ACEs were all statistically significant in the total sample and both subgroups (all P <0.05).
Conclusion:Mental health status among sexual minority college students in Guangxi is associated with ACEs, and their well being requires active attention
