Comparison of Subjective Health Complaints between Chinese and German University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Janet Junqing Chu, Mobarak Hossain Khan, Heiko J. Jahn and Alexander Kraemer
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Janet Junqing Chu: Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstr. 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
Mobarak Hossain Khan: Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstr. 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
Heiko J. Jahn: Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstr. 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
Alexander Kraemer: Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Universitaetsstr. 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: High rates of health complaints (HCs) with substantial variation are reported in different university populations, which can be linked to socio-demographic, lifestyle-related factors, and cultural differences. HCs can be categorized into distinct components. This study aimed to identify and compare underlying dimensions of HCs (HC components); to access and compare HC prevalence, and the associations between HC components, socio-demographic, lifestyle-related factors, and perceived stress in German and Chinese university students. Two health surveys were conducted among 5159 university students (1853 Chinese, 3306 German). Factor analysis and logistic regression were applied. The prevalence of HC ranged from 4.6% to 40.2% over the two countries. Germans reported at least three HCs more often (47.2% vs. 35.8%). Chinese students more often reported gastrointestinal complaints. Perceived stress was positively associated with all three HC components in both countries (OR = 1.03–1.50) with stronger associations among Germans. Women more often reported HCs (OR = 1.32–2.43) with stronger associations among the Germans. Having a father with a low educational level was associated with high psychological symptoms among the Chinese (OR = 1.51), but with low gastrointestinal complaints among the Germans (OR = 0.79). The high prevalence of HCs in students requires country-specific interventions.

Keywords: health complaint; gastrointestinal complaints; pain/aches; perceived stress; psychological symptoms; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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