Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis

Abstract Background Mental health is an important aspect of adolescents’ development and well-being. Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt, are recognized to be interconnected and to occur often. Research has found that a...

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Main Authors: Fajuan Rong, Mengni Wang, Chang Peng, Jie Hu, Junhan Cheng, Yan Wang, Yizhen Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21136-x
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author Fajuan Rong
Mengni Wang
Chang Peng
Jie Hu
Junhan Cheng
Yan Wang
Yizhen Yu
author_facet Fajuan Rong
Mengni Wang
Chang Peng
Jie Hu
Junhan Cheng
Yan Wang
Yizhen Yu
author_sort Fajuan Rong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mental health is an important aspect of adolescents’ development and well-being. Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt, are recognized to be interconnected and to occur often. Research has found that aggression is connected to a variety of mental health problems. However, there’s limited knowledge about the patterns of how depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt co-occur, and only few studies describe their association with aggression and sex differences. Methods A cross-sectional study that involved 18,555 Chinese adolescents was performed to explore the mental health latent classes and the relationship with aggression. Results The results showed four latent classes of mental health problems: low-symptom class (70.8%), self-harm class (9.1%), emotional symptom class (13.4%), and high-symptom class (6.7%). A significant co-occurrence between depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt was found in the high-symptom class. Notably, higher levels of adolescent aggression were associated with comorbid moderate to high mental health problems. Similar four latent classes and associations were found across sexes. Conclusions The present study emphasized the heterogeneity of mental health problems and revealed their co-occurrence patterns. Aggression levels are associated with the latent classes in adolescents, with the most pronounced association observed in the high-symptom class. Preventing aggression could contribute to reducing the severity and co-occurring patterns of mental health problems among adolescents.
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spelling doaj-art-0dfd67029dd1460ca45bc31f6badac9c2025-08-20T01:47:59ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-024-21136-xAggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysisFajuan Rong0Mengni Wang1Chang Peng2Jie Hu3Junhan Cheng4Yan Wang5Yizhen Yu6Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Mental health is an important aspect of adolescents’ development and well-being. Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt, are recognized to be interconnected and to occur often. Research has found that aggression is connected to a variety of mental health problems. However, there’s limited knowledge about the patterns of how depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt co-occur, and only few studies describe their association with aggression and sex differences. Methods A cross-sectional study that involved 18,555 Chinese adolescents was performed to explore the mental health latent classes and the relationship with aggression. Results The results showed four latent classes of mental health problems: low-symptom class (70.8%), self-harm class (9.1%), emotional symptom class (13.4%), and high-symptom class (6.7%). A significant co-occurrence between depression, anxiety, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt was found in the high-symptom class. Notably, higher levels of adolescent aggression were associated with comorbid moderate to high mental health problems. Similar four latent classes and associations were found across sexes. Conclusions The present study emphasized the heterogeneity of mental health problems and revealed their co-occurrence patterns. Aggression levels are associated with the latent classes in adolescents, with the most pronounced association observed in the high-symptom class. Preventing aggression could contribute to reducing the severity and co-occurring patterns of mental health problems among adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21136-xMental health problemsAggressionPerson-centered approachAdolescents
spellingShingle Fajuan Rong
Mengni Wang
Chang Peng
Jie Hu
Junhan Cheng
Yan Wang
Yizhen Yu
Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
BMC Public Health
Mental health problems
Aggression
Person-centered approach
Adolescents
title Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
title_full Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
title_fullStr Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
title_full_unstemmed Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
title_short Aggression and patterns of co-occurrence mental health problems in Chinese adolescents: a latent class analysis
title_sort aggression and patterns of co occurrence mental health problems in chinese adolescents a latent class analysis
topic Mental health problems
Aggression
Person-centered approach
Adolescents
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21136-x
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