Investigation on the mental healthy status of the rural elderly in Guangxi Minority Areas

Objective To evaluate the mental healthy status of Zhuang,Yao,Miao,Dong,Mulao,Maonan,Hui,Jing minority and the Han nationality in rural elderly. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted by symptom check list-90 (SCL-90). Results The total score and every factor score of SCL-90 in the aged from different minority remained statically significant (all P<0.05). The total score in the Hui nationality of the aged were the highest, whereas in the Zhuang nationality were the lowest. The aged in Dong minority had the highest score in phobic anxiety factor, while the Hui nationality had the highest or higher score in some areas, such as obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. Somatization, depression, paranoid ideal and other factors (reflecting diet and sleep) of the Jing nationality aged were the highest, as well as the score of factor in the Yao nationality old people. The aged from Han nationality had the highest score in anxiety and hostility factor. However, the Zhuang nationality old people's scores were at the lowest level. Conclusions The status of mental health are different in the rural elderly from different minority in Guangxi, as well as different factors among different nationalities with different psychological dimensions, which should be paid attention.