The Relationship between Mental Health Problems and Health-promoting Behaviors among Elementary School Students in a Rural Area

일부 농촌지역 초등학생들의 정신건강 문제와 건강증진행위와의 관련성

Purpose: The mental health during the elementary school years is important to develop overall healthy behaviors and well adapt to society. So as to provide basic data for comprehensive health education programs, we investigated the state of mental health problems and health promotion behaviors among rural elementary school students, along with the relationship between the two factors. Methods: In total, 421 5th and 6th grade students were recruited to answer a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of questions about general demographic characteristics, 4 items over mental health-interpersonal vulnerability, depression, anxiety, hostility-, and 5 items over health behaviors-general health habits, computer addiction, accident prevention, infection prevention, and mental health-. The participation rate was 96%(407/421). Results: 1) The mean and the standard deviation of mental health problems were as follows; interpersonal sensitivity $2.06{\pm}0.70$, hostility $1.88{\pm}0.73$, depression $1.74{\pm}0.69$, anxiety $1.72{\pm}0.66$. 2) The mean and the standard deviation of health-promoting behaviors were as follows; prevention of infectious diseases $3.37{\pm}0.47$, hygiene and daily-life habit $3.09{\pm}0.41$, mental health $2.81{\pm}0.51$, accident prevention $2.79{\pm}0.57$, computer usage and health $2.61{\pm}0.56$. 3) Students with high academic performance, good relationships with friends and teachers, high household economic status, and good family relation, showed higher scores in health-promoting behaviors. 4) Higher scores in mental health problems were significantly correlated with lower scores in health-promoting behaviors. Conclusion: In developing comprehensive school health programs, it is necessary to find ways to improve both health promoting behaviors and mental health problems.