Mental Health Status of College Freshmen and Influencing Factors

Objective: This study combines quantitative research of personality traits with demographic data to analyze the influencing factors of the mental health of freshmen in colleges and universities, and provides a reference to/from future college freshmen’s mental health education and management. Methods: A census method was used to survey freshmen admitted to the Yangtze University, including general demographic characteristics, a 16-person cartel questionnaire (16-PF), and a 90-item self-assessment scale (SCL-90). Results: The mental health status of freshmen in colleges and universities was good, with 16.2% (1488 persons) being tested positive. Among the positive screened samples, obsessive-compulsive symptom factor, interpersonal relationship sensitivity factor, anxiety factor, depression factor, and increased scores were the main characteristics. The results of binary classification logistic regression analysis showed that humanities and social sciences, non-urban household registration, and non-sturdy families, undergraduate and college students are at higher risk of being screened for SCL-90. Conclusion: Freshmen in colleges and universities are generally in good mental health. Under the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors, some freshmen are more prone to neurological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. At the same time, they are also more likely to be troubled by interpersonal relationships. The appearance of neurological symptoms and the classification of people that are troubled by interpersonal relationships are also special. According to the conclusions of this study, the emphasis is on accurately identifying the symptoms of neonatal neurosis in colleges and universities, and early intervention, and managing high-risk groups that may have the above symptoms, and reducing the prevalence of psychological and mental disorders in college freshmen.