The Study On The Law-related Petitioners' Mental Characteristics And Influencing Factors

Objective: In this study, we can understand the basic situation of law-related petitioners and their physical and mental condition, by measuring their personality characteristics and mental health with scientific scales and tools.Methods: In this study, 100 petitioners finished the questionnaire interview face to face in the period of December 2009 to December 2010.These petitioners can communicate well and they are willing to cooperate with the investigation among those who have petitioned at the Dalian Intermediate People's Court for years or those who went there frequently during the period from December 2009 to December 2010.Results:(1) Petitioners' ages range from 28 to 82, their average age is 58.37±11.86. They took 9.67±3.51 years for education on average. (2) 52% petitioners petitioned for civil cases, 13% petitions were for civil criminal cases, 27% petitions were for implementation cases, and the remaining were for administrative cases. The petitioners took 8.11±8.17 years for petition on average. (3) 100 petitioners' average score of CES-D is 26.77±13.48, which is significantly higher than the general population's which is 13.24±10.33 (p<0.001). Females scored significantly higher than males (P<0.01). And petitioners with physical diseases scored significantly higher than those with no diseases (P<0.01).(4) Scores of the scales Hs and Hy are the first two highest average scores. Married petitioners' average score of the scale L is significantly higher than the score of those who are single at the current ( P<0.01). Female petitioners' score of D is significantly higher than males' (P<0.01). Rural petitioners' score of Pd is significantly higher than urban petitioners' (P<0.05), and single ones' is significantly higher than married ones' (P<0.05). Petitioners with physical diseases get significantly higher scores of Hs (P<0.01) and Hy ( P<0.05) than ones without diseases. (5) Petitioners' average score of NC is 26.36±7.665, which is significantly lower than the average score of healthy adults. Petitioners' average score of PC is 26.98±8.957, which is significantly higher than the average score of healthy adults. Female petitioners get significantly higher scores of NC than males (P<0.01). Petitions with physical diseases get significantly higher scores of NC than those with no diseases (P<0.05). (6)In unconditional logistic regression analysis of petitioners' sleep quality, depression and NC are risk factors, then trust is the protective factor. (7) In unconditional logistic regression analysis of petitioners' depression, independence and Hy are protective factors, then negative coping styles, complexity of human nature, Hs, Pa, and Si are risk factors. (8) In unconditional logistic regression analysis of petitioners' Hs, depression and age are risk factors, then strength of will and rationality and illness are protective factors. (9) In the stepwise regression analysis of Hy, depression, variability of human nature and PC entered the regression equation. (10) In the stepwise regression analysis of PC, education, variability and complexity of human nature, Hs and Pt entered the regression equation.Conclusions: (1) The petitioners reached a high level of depression than normal. Older in age and better sleep and independence were protective factors of depression, then negative coping, complexity of philosophy, strength of will and rationality and long-time petitions were risk factors. (2) The mental state and personality characteristics of petitioners were normal. Their scores of hypochondriasis and hysteria were high, then their Si score were low. CES-D and age were risk factors for Hs, and strength of will and rationality and disease were protective factors. (3) Coping styles of petitioners were more positive than normal, and males were more positive than females. Petitioners with more education, variability of human nature and self-centered chose more positive coping styles.