Aspects of Stress-related Health Problems Among Young People in China --the Perspective of Community Health Professionals

Abstract: China's modernization process is in a stage of rapid development. With the improvement of the education level of young people, their expectations on their study, career, and living standards are also being high-stress level. The various health problems are increasing among young people who may be experienced high-level stress. Despite the attention mental health has received, there is still little research on stress-related health problems and consequences, particularly in China. Therefore, the study aims to describe different aspects of stress-related health problems among young people in China, from the perspective of community health professionals. This master's thesis is based on a literature review and a theoretical framework including the perspective of the psycho-neuroendocrine-immune (PNEI) model. The empirical data originates from 20 informants and qualitative full-text questionnaires, resulting in key findings and conclusions. On the one hand, physiological and psychological systems interact to exacerbate health problems, among young people, such as nervous system-related headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances due to stress; immune system-related colds, asthma; endocrine and metabolic problems such as for overweight or obesity, gastric acid secretion disorders and so on, These problems could be seen as reflecting the bidirectional influence of an “overloaded” psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune system. Further, the results show that the vicious circle related to stress may lead to severe health consequences for young people.