Hongbin Xu: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Shijiao Yan: School of public health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou，Hainan, China; Research Unit of Island Emergency Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU013), Hainan Medical University，Haikou，Hainan, China.
Yuanyuan Chang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Heng Jiang: Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Li Zou: Department of Neurology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, China.
Yong Gan: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Yanhong Gong: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Shiyi Cao: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Chao Wang: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China.
Jun-An Liu: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China. Electronic address: lja10_11@163.com.
Zuxun Lu: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China. Electronic address: zuxunlu@yahoo.com.
BACKGROUND: Whether there is a difference in perceived social support (PSS) and related factors among college students from one- and multiple-child families was unclear. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study between October 2017 and February 2018, randomly selected college students with siblings (n=5875; aged 19.41±1.99 years) and their counterparts without siblings (n=5175; aged 19.88±2.38 years), and then conducted an online questionnaire survey via a multi-stage cluster random sampling method. We applied the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) to evaluate PSS among college students. The multivariable logistic regression models were used to predict factors associated with low perceived social support in two student groups. RESULTS: Our study found that there was a statistical difference of PSS between the sibling groups. Sex, single-parent family, irregular daily routine, prevalence of diseases or injuries and psychological distress were significantly associated with low PSS in both college students with and without siblings. Compared with single-child college students, single-parent family structure was associated with a higher odds ratio for low PSS in college students with siblings (ratio of odds ratio: 0.71, 95% confidential interval: 0.53-0.97). LIMITATIONS: Our study was a cross-sectional study design, and all participants in current study were from Wuhan city, Hubei Province. Hence, the sample is not representative of other regions in China. CONCLUSIONS: Although a statistical difference of PSS between the sibling groups was found in our study, single-parent family structure was more strongly associated with low PSS in multiple-child students compared with single-child students.
