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KMID : 0897520020070010034
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Journal of Korean Association of Social Psychiatry
2002 Volume.7 No. 1 p.34 ~ p.42
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A Study on Mental Health States of the Urban and Rural Residents
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Kim Sung-Wan
Bae Ahn
Jang Chang-Yong
Kim Myung-Kyu
An Ju-Hong
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Abstract
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Objective：Increasing mental health problems need systematic community mental health service. This study was performed to get basic data in order to develop a plan and strategy for community mental health services. The purposes of this study were to investigate the mental health states of a large community, including both urban and rural areas, and to identify the factors influencing their mental health states.
Methods：A total of 1716 subjects were selected through stratified random sampling among residents of Gwang-ju city, Mok-po city, Gang-jin gun, who were 18 years and older. The General Health Questionnaire(GHQ) was used to evaluate the mental health states. The survey was administered using a paper copies. The mental health states were analyzed by overall mental health state and four subscales：somatic symptom, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. The socio-demographic characteristics influencing mental health were found out and the high risk groups of mental health were discovered.
Results：1) Residents of Gwang-ju city were significantly better in overall mental health states than residents of other regions. 2) Overall mental health states of subjects in their 30’s and 40’s were relatively good. The somatic symptom subscale score was highest for those in their 60’s and older, and anxiety and insomnia subscale was highest for those in their 50’s. On the other hand, social dysfunction was shown to be highest in subjects in their 20’s and younger but lowest in for those 60’s and older. 3) Those who were divorced, separated or bereaved from their spouse showed significantly worst overall mental health as well as more somatic symptom, anxiety and insomnia and severe depression; while those who were single showed more social dysfunction. 4) Subjects who followed a religion other than the major religions which were Christianity, Catholicism and Buddhism showed more social dysfunction. 5) Residents of low socioeconomic status such as low education levels, unemployment or living with monthly rent were relatively worse in overall mental health states and scored high in most subscales. 6) The opinion leaders had significantly better overall mental health states and low social dysfunction. 7) Subjects who had family or personal experiences of psychiatric treatment were significantly worse in their overall mental health states. 8) Comparing the high risk group to the non-risk group, those who divorced, bereaved or separated from spouse, had a religion that was not major religion, lived in Mok-po city or paid monthly rent, were unemployed, and had experienced with psychiatric treatment, were more apt to have mental disease.
Conclusions：The high risk groups of mental illness had the following characteristics：low education or economic level, family or personal histories of psychiatric treatments, divorce or separation during marriage, having a religion that was not major religion and residents in small-sized city. Therefore, appropriate community mental health programs should be provided for these high risk people.
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KEYWORD
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GHQ, Mental health states, Community mental health service
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