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Family environment, health risk behaviors, and mental health among chinese five-year vocational education students: a cross-sectional network analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety, pose a global public health challenge. Vocational education students are an understudied population, and the complex interrelationships among family environment, health risk behaviors, and psychological symptoms remain unclear. This study employed network analysis to examine these associations, aiming to identify central symptoms and potential gender differences. A total of 1,601 students enrolled in five-year higher vocational education programs were recruited from two vocational colleges in Nanning, Guangxi, using multistage cluster random sampling. Participants were aged 12–23 years, representing late adolescence and emerging adulthood. Family environment, health risk behaviors, and mental health status were assessed using the Family Environment Scale, the Student Health Status and Influencing Factors Questionnaire, and the Mental Health Scale for Middle School Students, respectively. The EBICglasso method was used to estimate networks and derive centrality indices, followed by the Network Comparison Test to evaluate gender differences. “Depression” and “Anxiety” showed the highest strength centrality. Family “Cohesion” and “Conflict” showed the highest bridge strength across domains. The relatively strongest edge was observed between “Sleep deprivation” and “Depression.” No significant gender differences were detected in network structure or global strength. Depression and anxiety were the most central symptoms in this network. Family cohesion and sleep deprivation were statistically prominent bridge nodes and may represent promising targets for future intervention research. Family-based emotional communication training and sleep health promotion warrant further investigation.

Source: BMC Psychology

DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-05939-8