離島地區新兵役男憂鬱傾向與自覺健康以及健康行為之間的關係

Association of Depressive Tendency with Self-Perceived Health and Healthy Behavior among Newly Recruited Males on a Frontier Island

背景及目的：在一個不熟悉的環境中執行一個新派遣的任務時，經常會有恐懼、焦慮以及憂鬱的問題。本研究以859位離島新兵役男為樣本，其目的旨在了解離島新兵役男憂鬱與自覺健康以及健康相關行為間的關係。
方法：本研究以國民健康局的臺灣地區國民健康促進知識、態度與行為調查問卷和臺灣人憂鬱篩選問卷為工具，針對2008年9月至2011年1月間赴烏坵服役之新兵，於初入島一週內進行團體施測。資料以 SPSS Windows 15.0 版進行統計分析，使用邏輯斯迴歸預測憂鬱傾向的潛在因子。
結果：接受本研究調查的新兵役男共859人，其中32位因填答不完整而被排除在此研究之外。受測役男年齡分佈於18-22歲（平均年齡為21.9±2.6歲）。當新兵被問及入伍前最困擾的事時，21.1%回答因缺乏適切生涯規劃而感到困擾，其次有16.0%的人表示因面臨服役而感到困擾。進一步將憂鬱量表得分以19分作為切點二分為有、無憂鬱傾向兩組，發現有憂鬱傾向者高達14.6%。將健康行為與自覺健康狀況對憂鬱傾向進行邏輯斯迴歸分析發現，較少自覺健康者 (OR=3.610; 95% CI=1.838-7.092)、有嚼檳榔者(OR＝4.742; 95% CI＝2.750-8.174)、缺乏運動者 (OR=2.311; 95% CI＝1.488-3.587)、以及身體不適卻無就醫者(OR=1.838; 95 CI=1.147-2.950)，較可能發生憂鬱傾向。
結論：憂鬱傾向與許多的健康行為以及自覺健康有顯著關聯。主管單位宜提供適切求助管道，透過教育宣導，關注健康行為以維護新兵役男之心理健康。

Background and Purpose: Performing a newly assigned mission in an unfamiliar environment usually results in apprehension, anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine the association of depressive tendency with self-perceived health and healthy related behavior in a group of 859 newly recruited males assigned to a remote frontier island for military purposes.
Methods: We used the questionnaire from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan and the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to the newly recruited males within one week after their arrival on the island between September 2008 and January 2011. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 software. Logistic regression was used to predict the risk factors for depressive tendency.
Results: Of the 859 questionnaires administered, 32 were excluded from analysis because of incomplete items critical for this research. The mean age of the new recruits was 21.9 ± 2.6 years (range 18 - 22 years). When they were asked, "Did you feel apprehensive 1 month prior to recruitment?" 21.1% of them reported apprehension about their lack of appropriate career planning, and 16.0% of them reported apprehension about military service. The scores on the depression scale were recorded dichotomously as depressive tendency and non-depressive tendency, and 14.6% of the respondents were classified as having depressive tendency. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that those who perceived themselves as being unhealthy (OR = 3.610; 95% CI = 1.838 - 7.092), had a habit of betel nut chewing (OR = 4.742; 95% CI = 2.750-8.174), lacked physical exercise (OR = 2.311; 95% CI = 1.488-3.587), and who had physical discomfort but did not seek medical treatment (OR = 1.838; 95% CI = 1.147 - 2.950) were more likely to have depressive tendency.
Conclusions: There was a significant association of depressive tendency with self-perceived health and several healthy behavior. Authorities in charge of newly recruited males should provide appropriate assistance including education, advocacy, and the promotion of healthy behavior in order to maintain recruits' psychological health.