Air pollution and mental health in adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan, China
8 affiliations
- 1Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 China
- 2Department of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 China
- 3Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Social Consciousness, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611756 China
- 4State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 China
- 5Key Laboratory of Physical Field Bioeffects and Instrumentation of Sichuan Universities, School of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225 China
- 6Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225 China
- 7Chengdu Plain Urban Meteorology and Environment Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610225 China
- 8Department of Stomatology Informatics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 China
Abstract
Objective: Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues among adolescents, and the impact of air pollution on mental health is gaining increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the association between air pollutant exposure and the risks of anxiety and depression among adolescent students in Sichuan Province, China.
Method: This study used cross-sectional data from 71,364 school students aged 10 to 19 in Sichuan Province, China, collected during two winter periods: December 2022 to March 2023 and December 2023 to March 2024. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 assessed anxiety/depression (scores ≥ 5); pollution (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2) and weather data via IP informed weighted combined pollution score for exposure. Logistic regression and mixed-effects linear models were employed to evaluate the associations, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, family-related, and meteorological factors.
Results: Both PM10 and O3 showed robust positive associations with mental health risks. In the fully adjusted model (Model 4), each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM10 and O3 was associated with increased risks of anxiety (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.22–1.36 for PM10; OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.19–1.29 for O3) and depression. Mixed-effects models confirmed that O3 significantly increased scale scores. Quantile analysis of the weighted combined pollution score revealed a stepwise increase in risk, highlighting the significant impact of exposure to high pollution levels. Conversely, PM2.5 and SO2 showed inverse associations in this specific context.
Conclusions: Exposure to high levels of PM10 and O3 is significantly associated with increased risks of anxiety and depression in adolescents, emphasizing the need for public health measures like air quality monitoring and pollution control policies.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026pollution,
title = {{Air pollution and mental health in adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan, China}},
author = {Cong Wang and Hongyu Xie and Yulu He and Yi-Yue Yang and Lie Zhou and Hui Jin and Yang Wen and Jia Cai and Yun-Fei Mu and Yun Xiao and Jawad Ahmad and Xiaoling Zhang and Lin Zhao and Junwen Peng and Lunwei Kang and Yang Wu and Yonghong Li and Mao-Sheng Ran and Ga Liao},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Air pollution and mental health in adolescents: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan, China
AU - Cong Wang
AU - Hongyu Xie
AU - Yulu He
AU - Yi-Yue Yang
AU - Lie Zhou
AU - Hui Jin
AU - Yang Wen
AU - Jia Cai
AU - Yun-Fei Mu
AU - Yun Xiao
AU - Jawad Ahmad
AU - Xiaoling Zhang
AU - Lin Zhao
AU - Junwen Peng
AU - Lunwei Kang
AU - Yang Wu
AU - Yonghong Li
AU - Mao-Sheng Ran
AU - Ga Liao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/31
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5
AB - Objective: Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues among adolescents, and the impact of air pollution on mental health is gaining increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the association between air pollutant exposure and the risks of anxiety and depression among adolescent students in Sichuan Province, China. Method: This study used cross-sectional data from 71,364 school students aged 10 to 19 in Sichuan Province, China, collected during two winter periods: December 2022 to March 2023 and December 2023 to March 2024. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 assessed anxiety/depression (scores ≥ 5); pollution (PM10, PM2.5, O3, CO, SO2, NO2) and weather data via IP informed weighted combined pollution score for exposure. Logistic regression and mixed-effects linear models were employed to evaluate the associations, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, family-related, and meteorological factors. Results: Both PM10 and O3 showed robust positive associations with mental health risks. In the fully adjusted model (Model 4), each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM10 and O3 was associated with increased risks of anxiety (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.22–1.36 for PM10; OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.19–1.29 for O3) and depression. Mixed-effects models confirmed that O3 significantly increased scale scores. Quantile analysis of the weighted combined pollution score revealed a stepwise increase in risk, highlighting the significant impact of exposure to high pollution levels. Conversely, PM2.5 and SO2 showed inverse associations in this specific context. Conclusions: Exposure to high levels of PM10 and O3 is significantly associated with increased risks of anxiety and depression in adolescents, emphasizing the need for public health measures like air quality monitoring and pollution control policies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28370-5.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -