| Objective:Through this study, we aim to understand the mental health conditions incadres at or below regiment level (hereinafter referred to as cadres) in armedpolice forces and the influencing factors, assess their needs for mental healthservices, and, based on the survey data, put forward suggestions on andmeasures in serving their needs, so as to improve their mental health, thusenhancing their fighting capacity.Method:By convenience sampling, we chose1149cadres studying in three armedpolice institutes in the first half of2012and, adopting mental diseaseforecasting scales for soldiers, self-compiled KAP (knowledge, attitude andpractice) questionnaires on mental health, questionnaires on needs for mentalhealth services, investigated their mental health conditions and needs formental health services, and assessed their mental health KAP. SPSS17.0software was adopted to carry out the data processing and analyses, and thestatistical methods used include statistical description, t-test, variance analysis,chi-square test, Logistic regression analysis, and so on.Results:1Result of mental disease forecasting scales for soldiers: the total scoreof the scales for the1,211cadres surveyed was16.67±9.28, among which83cases are beyond the cut-off score, and the positive rate was7.2percent. Themost prominent was the positive rate of stressors (11.1percent).2The comparison among the total score, the scores of each factor and thenorms of all arms: the total score is higher than the norms of Army, Navy andAir Force under statistical analysis by single sample μ-test, and the values of t (12.287,6.552, and8.837, respectively) showed statistical difference at theinspection level of0.05when P＜0.05. The scores of six factors, i.e. familyand past medical history, life experience, introverted personality, stressors,depression and personality deviation, are lower than the norm of Army; thescores of four factors, i.e. unhealthy mental defense, insufficient social support,psychoticism and mania, were lower than the norm of Navy; the scores of fourfactors, i.e. psychoticism, mania, neuroses and personality deviation, werelower than the norm of Air Force; this showed statistical significance at theinspection level of0.05when P＜0.05.3Analysis of the factors influencing the mental health of cadres: bysingle factor variance analysis, the total scores of different age groups(F=3.507), different lengths of military service (F=3.183) and different ranks(F=4.821) showed marked difference at the inspection level of0.05when P＜0.05. By chi-square test, the scores of the negative group and the positivegroup (family and past medical history, χ2=40.909，OR=7.452; introvertedpersonality, χ2=6.261，OR=13.054; stressor, χ2=16.200，OR=12.369; unhealthymental defense, χ2=7.896，OR=39.950) showed marked difference at theinspection level of0.05when P＜0.05. Carried out multiple-factor analysis byLogistic backward stepwise regression, and there were five variables in themodel, i.e. age group, rank, stressor, introverted personality and unhealthymental defense. Then carried out carry out chi-square test on the regressionmodel, and χ2=237.611, P＜0.001, which showed statistical significance. TheORs (odds ratios) of age group, rank, stressor, introverted personality andunhealthy mental defense were1.990,0.637,12.391,12.743, and33.799,respectively.4Analysis result of questionnaires on mental health KAP and influencingfactors: the total score of questionnaires on mental health KAP was66.898±10.278; the total scores of899cadres (78.400percent) were higher than thepassing score (60). Carried out multiple-factor analysis by Logistic backwardstepwise regression, and there were four variables in the model, i.e. division,education background, marital status and location of encampment. Then carried out carry out chi-square test on the regression model, and χ2=19.860, P＜0.001, which showed statistical significance.5Analysis result of questionnaires on mental health KAP—Knowledgeand influencing factors: the total score of questionnaires on mental healthKAP—Knowledge was58.813±20.219; the total scores of637cadres (46.4percent) were higher than the passing score (60); the total awareness rate ofthe knowledge on mental health was58.813percent. Carried outmultiple-factor analysis by Logistic backward stepwise regression, and therewere four variables in the model, i.e. location of choosing sample, division,length of military service and education background. Then carried out carryout chi-square test on the regression model, and χ2=81.358, P＜0.001, whichshowed statistical significance.6Analysis result of questionnaires on mental health KAP—Attitude andinfluencing factors: the total score of questionnaires on mental health KAP—Attitude was69.119±12.172; the total scores of960cadres (83.800percent)were higher than the passing score (60); the total rate of belief in mental healthwas69.120percent. Carried out multiple-factor analysis by Logistic backwardstepwise regression, and there were three variables in the model, i.e. age group,length of military service and marital status. Then carried out carry outchi-square test on the regression model, and χ2=26.486, P＜0.001, whichshowed statistical significance.7Analysis result of questionnaires on mental health KAP—Practice andinfluencing factors: the total score of questionnaires on mental health KAP—Attitude was72.762±15.651; the total scores of962cadres (83.800percent)were higher than the passing score (60); the total formation rate of mentallyhealthy behaviors was83.900percent. Carried out multiple-factor analysis byLogistic backward stepwise regression, and there were four variables in themodel, i.e. division, age group, site of recruitment and location ofencampment. Then carried out carry out chi-square test on the regressionmodel, and30.281, P＜0.001, which showed statistical significance.8Subjective needed for providing mental health services: the survey showed that651cadres (56.800percent) consider it necessary to providemental health services in the army,599cadres (52.200percent) deem it highlynecessary to provide mental health services specifically for cadres, and426cadres regard cadres in the political department as most in need of mentalhealth services.9Subjective needed for mode and content of mental health services: thesurvey showed that120cadres (10.500percent) believe that the medicaldepartments in the army can fully meet the cadres’ needed for mental healthservices, while551cadres (48.100percent) thinked it necessary to invitepsychologists to assist in providing mental health services; with respect to thebest way of publicizing knowledge on mental health, the result showed that781cadres (68.200percent) choosed discussions or lectures,679cadres(59.200percent) choosed movies and TV plays, and650cadres choosedpsychological inspection; as for the most needed knowledge related to mentalhealth,888cadres (77.500percent) choosed common sense of mental health,867cadres (75.700percent) choosed ways of self-adjustment and relaxation,and778cadres choosed interpersonal skills.Conclusions:1The overall mental health conditions of cadres at or below regimentlevel in armed police forces is not optimistic: the general performance waslower than the norms of Army, Navy and Air Force.2Tentative researches should be made on the factors influencing mentalhealth of cadres at or below regiment level in armed police forces, includingage, rank, stressors, personality, coping strategy, and so on.3Cadres at or below regiment level in armed police forces were in largeneed of mental health services, showcased by unhealthy mental conditions, aswell as relatively low mental health KAP scores. |
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