Objectives    To investigate the self-reported rates of sub-health and explore the relationship between sub-health and alexithymia.     Methods    A total of 2 505 students majoring in clinical medicine or other related subjects from a certain medical university are selected. Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) were investigated. Multiple unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between sub-health and alexithymia.     Results    The rates of physical

psychological sub-health and psychosomatic sub-health status in boys were 7

.7% and 5.9% respectively

while the results among female students were 8.6% and 5.5% respectively. The rates between sexes were not significantly different (P0.05). In univariate analysis

alexithymia with its 3 factors is relevant to physical and psychological sub-health (apart from extroversion thinking and psychological sub-health). When the confounding factors like demographic index were in control

as for physical sub-health

seven-year students got the highest scores

and alexithymia score P

75

was the risk factor (P0.05)

while subjects’ mothers’ educational background being elementary school was a protective factor (P0.01). As for psychological sub-health

the five-year students got the lowest scores

and the condition of fathers

type of families and alexithymia coreP

50

were risk factors (P0.05).     Conclusion    The sub-health status is quite common among medical students

and alexithymia may be its risk factor.