A latent class analysis of life stress among female East Asian college students: A multi-country study

Background: This study aimed to identify subgroups of East Asian female college students experiencing life stress frequencies, and examine whether a difference in general characteristics existed between the extracted classes. Methods: This used a cross-sectional design. Female college students from South Korea (n = 220) and Hong Kong (n = 300) participated in the study. Life stress frequencies using the Life Stress Scale were measured. Latent class analysis as well as binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with extracted classes, and ascertain whether a difference in general characteristics existed between the extracted classes. Results: South Korean participants were classified into two latent groups: "life stress - high " (18.6%) or "life stress - low " (81.4%). Within the Korean latent groups, subjective health status was significantly associated with group classification. In Hong Kong, participants were classified into three latent groups: "life stress - high " (13.7%), "life stress - moderate " (43.9%), and "life stress - low " (42.4%), and the classified groups were significantly associated with the financial status of participants' parents, subjective health status, and body mass index. Limitations: It is difficult to generalize the results to college females in the whole of South Korea and Hong Kong due to the convenience sampling method. Furthermore, further studies using a longitudinal design will be needed to confirm the variables' causal relationship. Conclusions: For alleviating the experienced stress frequency, it is important for female college students to have interventions at the family, societal, and national levels, in addition to their individual efforts.