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Mental Health of the Prison Medical Workers (PMWs) and Influencing Factors in Jiangxi, China

Author

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  • Xiaojun Liu

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Dongdong Jiang

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Zhaoxun Hou

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Meikun He

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Yuanan Lu

    (Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Department of Public Health, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Zongfu Mao

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

Abstract

Prison medical workers (PMWs) are critically important, but they are also vulnerable to psychological problems. Currently, there is no study on examining PMWs’ mental health conditions and possible influencing factors in China. Hence, we conducted this cross-sectional survey, aiming to understand the mental health status of the PMWs and related impact factors in Jiangxi province of China. We employed the Chinese version of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) to assess the mental disorders and psychological health conditions of PMWs in Jiangxi. The t tests were used to compare the differences for the average score of SCL-90-R between the Chinese general population and targeted PMWs of this study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the main factors associated with overall detection rate of PMWs’ psychological health conditions. The scores of four dimensions (somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety, and paranoid ideation) were significantly higher than the Chinese national norm, and the total positive rate was 49.09% among the PMWs. Gender, marital status, age, and length of employment are identified to be the most significant predictors to affect PMWs’ mental health. Positive correlations between each of the nine dimensions of the SCL-90-R have been verified. This study demonstrated for the first time that PMWs are facing mental health risk and suffering serious psychological problems with psychopathology symptoms, which has become a growing concern in China. Our current findings suggest a need for more in-depth studies on this subject going forward to validate our conclusions and also to identify more impact factors, since such studies and knowledge of PMWs’ mental health and influencing factors are very limited in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaojun Liu & Dongdong Jiang & Zhaoxun Hou & Meikun He & Yuanan Lu & Zongfu Mao, 2017. "Mental Health of the Prison Medical Workers (PMWs) and Influencing Factors in Jiangxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:12:p:1459-:d:120430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kate Lyons & Cameron Radburn & Robin Orr & Rodney Pope, 2017. "A Profile of Injuries Sustained by Law Enforcement Officers: A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Brianna Larsen & Brad Aisbett & Aaron Silk, 2016. "The Injury Profile of an Australian Specialist Policing Unit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-9, March.
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