Associations of negative life events and coping style with health conditions among medical students in minority ethnic region

Objective To investigate impacts of negative life events and coping style on health status among medical students in minority ethnic region.Methods Cluster sampling method was adopted and a survey using Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC),Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale(SRHMS),and Coping Style Scale was conducted among 915 medical students.The collected data were analyzed with SPSS and structural equation modeling(SEM).Results The average health score for the studetns was 6.13±2.52.Among the three health dimensions,physical health score was the highest (6.86 ± 2.69) and the lowest was mental health (4.76 ± 2.15).In the previous one year,69.12% of the students had interpersonal relationship events and 60.47% had study pressure events,with the average score of 3.71±1.82 and 3.27±1.14.The male students showed better scores in dealing with interpersonal relationships,loss and health adapting than the female studetns.There were significant differences in negative life events and coping styles among the students of different ethnic,grades,region and economic condition of their families.The hetlth of the students were affected by negative life events and coping style.The students with negative life events were more likely to have negative coping style (β=0.24 for interpersonal relationships,β=0.11 for punished,β=0.09 for loss,β=0.13 for healthy adaptation,and β=0.06 for other events).Conclusion The health of medical students in minority region associates with negative life events and coping styles and we should strengthen corresponding guidance and intervention in the students.