Suzuki, H., Kaneita, Y., Osaki, Y., Minowa, M., Kanda, H., Suzuki, K., . . . Ohida, T. (2011) Clarification of the factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire among Japanese adolescents and associated sleep status. Psychiatry Research, 188(1), 138-46.

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Abstract

f the factors affecting the mental health status of adolescents and their association with sleep status could be clarified, this information would be helpful for formulating lifestyle and healthcare guidance for the promotion of healthy growth and the prevention of mental problems in these individuals. The purpose of this study was to clarify (1) the factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and (2) the associations between the factors extracted from this questionnaire and lifestyle, in particular sleep status, by using a representative sample population of Japanese adolescents. One hundred three thousand sixty hundred fifty self-administered questionnaires were collected from students enrolled in junior high and high schools in Japan. Of these questionnaires, 99,668 were analyzed. Sleep duration, subjective sleep assessment, bedtime, and insomnia symptoms of these students over the past month were studied to investigate sleep status. The factor analyses yielded two factors: depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion. Sleep duration of less than 7h was found to be associated with both depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion, whereas sleep duration of 8h or more was associated only with loss of positive emotion. Subjective sleep assessment and insomnia symptoms were associated with both depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion. It was demonstrated that two underlying factors of mental health status were associated with differences in sleep status. In order to improve the mental health status of adolescents, it is important to provide guidance about sleep and lifestyle habits according to the mental health status of the individual.

MeSH Terms
    Adolescent
    Anxiety/epidemiology
    Anxiety/physiopathology
    Anxiety/psychology
    Chi-Square Distribution
    Cross-Sectional Studies
    Depression/epidemiology
    Depression/physiopathology
    Depression/psychology
    Factor Analysis, Statistical
    Female
    Habits
    Health Status*
    Health Surveys
    Humans
    Japan
    Life Style
    Logistic Models
    Male
    Personality
    Sensitivity and Specificity
    Sleep/physiology*
    Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology*
    Sleep Wake Disorders/psychology
    Surveys and Questionnaires*