IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i3p2013-d1043667.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Psychological and Social Fitness in Healthy Adults Permanently Living at Very High Altitude

Author

Listed:
  • Chun Gao

    (Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Jizong Ciren

    (Research Center for Physical Fitness at High Altitude, Public Cultural Service Center, Chengguan District Culture and Tourism Bureau, Lhasa 850000, China)

  • Dan Wang

    (Evaluation Research Center, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Zhaohui Zhang

    (Research Center for Physical Fitness at High Altitude, Public Cultural Service Center, Chengguan District Culture and Tourism Bureau, Lhasa 850000, China)

  • Ruidong Ge

    (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Li’e Yan

    (Nursing Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China)

Abstract

Background: Environmental factors of high altitude, especially hypobaric hypoxia, may directly and persistently affect human physical and mental health. Our study was designed to assess the psychological and social fitness in healthy adults permanently living at very high altitude, i.e., an average elevation of 3650 m. Methods: In our observational study, 320 participants were included, among which 218 (68.1%) had resided in such a setting for more than 20 years. Participants underwent 138 assessments, including the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90) and the Evaluation Scale of Human Adaptation Capability (ESHAC). SAS (20 items) and SCL-90 (90 items) were used to assess psychological fitness, and the ESHAC (28 items) was used to assess social fitness. Pearson analysis was used to assess correlations and Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent influencing factors. Results: The highest SAS score was 80 and the mean score was 43.26 ± 8.88, which was higher than the norm in China ( p < 0.001). Sixty (18.8%) participants showed anxiety symptoms and 14 (4.4%) had moderate or severe anxiety. The average score of SCL-90 was 140.88 ± 44.77, and 96 (30.0%) participants showed SCL-90 scores ≥160. Compared with the norm, significant differences were shown in eight of the nine SCL-90 factor scores, i.e., somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. The average score of ESHAC was 19.92 ± 4.54, and 114 (35.6%) participants did not reach the qualifying standard. Significant correlations were observed between the SAS score, SCL-90 total and factor scores, and ESHAC scores. The Logistic regression analysis showed that being born at very high altitude was an independent influencing factor (AOR = 2.619; 95% CI, 1.629–4.211; p < 0.001) after controlling for other factors. Conclusion: Permanently living at very high altitude can influence the psychological and social fitness of healthy adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun Gao & Jizong Ciren & Dan Wang & Zhaohui Zhang & Ruidong Ge & Li’e Yan, 2023. "Assessment of Psychological and Social Fitness in Healthy Adults Permanently Living at Very High Altitude," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2013-:d:1043667
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2013/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2013/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qi Liu & Ka-Yan Ho & Katherine-Ka-Wai Lam & Winsome-Yuk-Yin Lam & Eileen-Hui-Lin Cheng & Shirley-Siu-Yin Ching & Frances-Kam-Yuet Wong, 2022. "A Descriptive and Phenomenological Exploration of the Spiritual Needs of Chinese Children Hospitalized with Cancer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Wagner Albo da Silva & Valéria Feijó Martins & Aline Nogueira Haas & Andréa Kruger Gonçalves, 2022. "Online Exercise Training Program for Brazilian Older Adults: Effects on Physical Fitness and Health-Related Variables of a Feasibility Study in Times of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2013-:d:1043667. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.