Pain and Fatigue in Chinese Adolescents

Abstract：BackgroundBody pain and physical and mental fatigue are common health issues among Chinese adolescents. To date, few studies have examined the interplay between body pain, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue in this population.MethodsThis study adopted a longitudinal design. Body pain, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue were assessed in 966 Chinese adolescents through two wave surveys conducted one year apart. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the data.ResultsThe body pain and physical fatigue experienced by adolescents can influence one another over time; however, body pain and mental fatigue do not have a reciprocal effect across time. In female adolescents, physical fatigue and mental fatigue can impact each other over time. Furthermore, in male adolescents, body pain significantly predicted mental fatigue one year later, while in female adolescents, physical fatigue had a significant effect on mental fatigue one year later. Research indicates that female adolescents experience higher levels of body pain, physical fatigue, and mental fatigue compared to male adolescents.ConclusionOnly body pain and physical fatigue exhibit the same interaction across different genders. However, the relationships between body pain and mental fatigue, as well as between physical fatigue and mental fatigue, display distinct patterns depending on gender.