Associated Factors of Suboptimal Health Status Among Adolescents in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: Suboptimal health status (SHS) is a state between health and disease, has several adverse effects, although, its main underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate SHS and its associated factors of adolescents.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the three different geographic locations of China (Shanxi, Guangzhou, and Tibet). A multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescent (MSQA) is used to evaluate SHS. Independent two-sample K-S test was performed for the quantitative data as the non-parametric test, whereas Chi-square test method was applied to explore the difference of discrete variables data between groups. Then finally, multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the influential factors of SHS.

Results: Among 1461 respondents (between 15 and 18 years old), females proportion (56.47%) was higher than males (43.53%) where SHS was higher in Shanxi followed by Tibet and then Guangdong. The rural area, grade, lack of sleep time, home visit in a week, lack of exercise, a heavy burden of study, smoking, drinking, and fewer friends were the risk factors of SHS, while families living status, seeking help and extroversion were the protective factors.

Conclusion: SHS is significantly associated with behavior and lifestyle-related factors. For comprehensively prevention and control of the SHS, it is urgently needed to reduce the risk factors and enhance the protective factors among adolescents.