Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Mental health is necessary to maintain and sustain the social, occupational and educational functions of the community, and lead to improvement, growth and perfection of the human character. This study aimed to investigate mental health and it’s related factors in Jiroft students.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 674 students of Medical, Islamic Azad and National Universities of Jiroft in 2013. In this study, demographic checklist and standard mental health questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, Fisher and Tukey tests.

Results: Among the participants, 229 students (34.0%) were from Azad University, 252 students (37.4%) from National University and 193 students (28.6%) from Medical Sciences University. Mean of students’ mental health score was 29.56±14.64 and 394 of them (58.5 %( were suspected to have mental problems. Among those, 135 (58.95%), 145 (57.53%) and 114 students (59.06%) were studying at Azad, National and Medical Sciences Universities which there wasn’t any significant difference in this regard (p=0.932). Based on t-test, there were significant relationships between mental health and sex (p=0.008), occupational status (p=0.027) as well as residential status (p=0.036).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a low level of mental health in Jiroft students. So, we recommend providing adequate life conditions, for example, setting opportunities to get a job and marry and reduce students’ stressors in order to increase their mental health.

Key words: Students, Mental health

Funding: This research was funded by Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. 

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences approved the study

How to cite this article: Ghaderi M, Hardani F, Nasiri M, Fakouri E. Assessment of Mental Health and its Related Factors in Jiroft students of Higher Education Centers in 2013. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2015 13(10): 949-60. [Farsi]