Mental health profiles of military personnel in mainland China 2000–2024: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mental health serves as the cornerstone of sustaining military combat effectiveness and the invisible armor securing victory on the battlefield. However, the prevalence of mental health problems of military personnel in mainland China is still unclear, which hinders our understanding of the current situation and impedes the timely formulation and implementation of effective intervention policies. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the pooled prevalence of mental health problems of military personnel in mainland China from 2000 to 2024, as well as the influencing factors. A meta-analysis was employed, and 299 publications with 950 effect sizes were identified through a systematic search, and analyses of main effects and moderating effects were conducted. Military personnel exhibited a range of mental health problems, among which the prevalence of screen-positive sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms ranked in the top three. Studies conducted after the military reform generally reported lower prevalence estimates of mental health problems among military personnel than studies conducted before the reform. Reported prevalence estimates also varied by measurement instrument and screening criteria, publication status, publication year, age, and methodological quality. In the future, scientific measuring tools and standards should be developed for military personnel to facilitate mental health services in the military.