The impact of psychological problems and adverse life events on suicidal ideation among adolescents using nationwide data of a school-based mental health screening test in Korea

The Dream Experience and Its Relationship with Morning Mood in Adolescents Hospitalized after a Suicide Attempt

Suicidality in adolescents has been associated with emotional distress, stressful life events, relationship issues, and nightmares to name a few. This study explored the actual dream content and the mood at pre-sleep, during a reported dream, and in the morning in 33 adolescents admitted to the hospital on account of a suicide attempt. In all aspects, hospitalized adolescents were compared to 33 matched adolescents who had followed the same protocol. In accordance with the Continuity and the Threat Simulation theories of dream formation, it was hypothesized that the waking-life experiences of suicidal adolescents would transpire in both dream mood and content as well as in the frequency of nightmares. Dreams were analyzed by independent judges using traditional dream content scales, including for the presence of negative and destructive themes and types of interpersonal relationships. As predicted, more suicidal adolescents experienced frequent nightmares, which was significant. A higher negative mood at pre-sleep, within dreams, and at post-sleep was also observed. Furthermore, their dreams contained a higher prevalence of destructive themes and failures, as well as self-directed and death-resulting aggressions. Regression analyses indicated that morning mood was most accurately predicted by positive and negative dream mood in the normative adolescents, whereas only negative dream mood appeared to predict subsequent waking affect in suicidal participants. Our results underline the valuable potential of implementing nightmare-reducing therapies in the presence of suicidal adolescents who suffer from frequent nightmares.

Suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents: prevalence, risk factors, and partial mediation by family support, a cross-sectional study

Background

Suicidal ideation is a pressing public health concern, particularly among adolescents. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents, addressing an important gap in current research.

Methods

This study employed an online survey of 3443 adolescents in Lianyungang, using a cross-sectional design. The assessment included the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder instrument, and the Perceived Social Support Scale to evaluate suicidal ideation, anxiety symptoms, and social support in adolescents, respectively.

Results

In adolescents, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 22.1%, with a significantly higher proportion among female adolescents than among males (27.9% vs 16.9%, P < 0.001). Binary regression analysis identified (OR = 1.788, 95% CI: 1.467-2.177, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (OR = 10.035, 95% CI: 7.441-13.534, P < 0.001), total PHQ-9 scores of mothers (OR = 1.040, 95%CI: 1.003 - 1.078, P = 0.034), total GAD-7 scores of mothers (OR = 0.958, 95%CI: 0.919 - 0.998, P = 0.039), and moderate parental relationships (OR = 2.042, 95% CI: 1.630-2.557, P < 0.001) to be risk factors for suicidal ideation; family support was a protective factor (OR = 0.888, 95% CI: 0.859-0.918, P < 0.001). Furthermore, family support partially mediates the relationship between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation among adolescents (9.28%).

Conclusions

This study highlights high adolescent suicidal ideation rates and recommends gender-specific interventions, anxiety management, and family support for improvement in mental health status.

Association between negative life events and suicidal behavior in adolescents: roles of core self-evaluation, depression and gender

PURPOSE

Negative life events are essential proximal factors that may induce suicidal behavior in adolescents, but the mechanisms connecting this link remain to further explored. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between negative life events (NLEs) and adolescents' suicidal behavior, and the roles of core self-evaluation, depression and gender playing between them.

METHODS

Using the whole-group sampling approach, 5296 Chinese adolescents (51.5% males, Meanage = 12.93) took part in this cross-sectional study in September 2021 and completed a battery of surveys including NLEs, suicidal behavior, CSE (core self-evaluation) and depression. Logistic regression and latent structural equation models were used to test the direct and indirect effects between NLEs and suicide behavior with multi-group path analysis, gender differences in this serial mediating effect were also tested.

RESULTS

After controlling for age and gender, NLEs were directly associated with adolescents' suicidal behavior. CSE and depression played significant serial mediating effects in this relationship. Moreover, significant gender differences were obtained in these serial mediating pathways, with stronger effects in girls.

CONCLUSION

Integrating the environmental, individual cognitive and emotional factors, our findings would be helpful in understanding the mechanism of these antecedents on adolescents' suicide behavior, which has specific practical significance for preventing and reducing suicidal behavior.

Self-reported emotional and behavioral problems among school-going adolescents in Nepal-A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Studies on self-reported emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) among adolescents are still sparse in many low- and middle-income countries. In Nepal, no such studies have been performed on a larger scale, and little is known about self-reported EBPs in the adolescent population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, school-based study on EBPs included 1904 adolescents aged 11-18 years, enrolled in government and private schools located in 16 districts in Nepal. The Nepali version of the Youth Self Report form was used to assess self-reported EBPs, and the Teacher Report Form was used to assess academic performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for gender comparisons on adolescents' EBPs and on academic competence. Multiple regression analysis was done to explore correlates of self-reported EBPs.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of self-reported EBPs was 14.2%; 15.6% in boys and 12.9% in girls. The mean Total Problems score was 39.27 (standard deviation = 24.16); no gender differences were observed. Boys scored higher on Externalizing Problems and girls scored higher on Internalizing Problems. The effect sizes for gender comparisons were small with Hedges' g ranging from -0.29 to 0.28. Physical illness and negative/traumatic life events were positively correlated with self-reported EBPs, whereas academic performance was negatively correlated. However, the effect sizes were small (η2 < 0.02).

CONCLUSION

This study helps to narrow the knowledge gap on the prevalence, magnitude, and types of self-reported EBPs in Nepali adolescents. It demonstrated an association between self-reported EBPs and academic performance and linked self-reported EBPs to other factors such as negative/traumatic life events and physical illness. The findings might assist health authorities in the planning of mental health services and may also provide valuable background information to clinicians dealing with adolescent mental health problems.

The relationship between abuse and neglect and adolescent suicidality: A moderated mediation model

Abuse and neglect can lead to suicide in adolescents; however, the internal mechanisms between abuse and neglect and suicidality remain unclear. We hypothesized that abuse and neglect could affect adolescent suicidality, and that mediating and moderating mechanisms exist between these two variables. We tested the mediating effects of stressful life events (misunderstanding and discrimination by others, poor academic performance, failed exams, interpersonal problems, and school punishment) on suicidal tendencies and moderating effects of resilience among 5,852 adolescents from 37 middle schools in five provinces of North, south, East, west, and central China. We used a questionnaire to collect data and adopted structural equation modeling to verify the correlation, mediating, and moderating effects among the variables. The results showed that stressful life events mediated the relationship between abuse, neglect, and suicide. Furthermore, resilience moderated the direct effect and second half of the mediating effect.

Negative life events increase the risk of suicidal ideation in 6653 Chinese freshmen: From a 1-year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Suicide is one of the leading causes of juvenile death. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a strong predictor of suicide, while negative life events are associated with SI in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of negative life events on SI in a sample of Chinese freshmen.

METHODS

The current study employed a cluster sampling method with 7118 freshmen at baseline and 6653 at follow-up. Negative life events were assessed by using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC), and SI was assessed by a separate question for self-report. The PHQ-9 was used to measure depression at baseline.

RESULTS

The incidence of suicidal ideation was 1.52% (95% CI: 1.22%-1.81%). Two dimensions of negative life events, interpersonal relationship and others were risk factors for SI, while female students were more susceptible to them. Consistently, interpersonal relationship and others were risk factors for SI in participants without depression and with mild depression. However, health & adaptation was found to be the only dimension of negative life events contributing to the risk of SI in participants with moderate, severe and extremely severe depression.

LIMITATIONS

There may be recall bias in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Negative life events increase the risk of SI in college students. Female students are more susceptible to negative life events. The effect of different dimensions of negative life events on SI varies in participants with and without depression.

Prevalence, risk factors and clinical correlates of suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression in a large sample of Chinese

BACKGROUND

Suicidal ideation (SI) has a high risk in adolescents and is now a significant concern due to its problematic outcome. However, few systemic studies of suicidal ideation have been conducted in adolescent patients. Therefore, the current study was aimed to assess the prevalence and its clinical correlate of suicidal ideation among adolescent patients with depression.

METHODS

A total of 1635 adolescent patients (748 males/ 887 females) with depression were recruited in this study. The clinical and demographic data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Suicidal ideation was assessed by interview. Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC) was used to assess the stressful life events.

RESULTS

The study showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation in adolescent depression patients was 38.2% (625/1635). Compared to the non-SI patients, SI patients had greater scores on CDI and ASLEC, had inadequate sleeping time, and were more likely to be females. Further logistic regression analysis indicated that suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression was significantly associated with females, inadequate sleeping time, the severity of depression, and higher learning pressure.

LIMITATIONS

No causal relationship could be drawn due to the cross-sectional design.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a high prevalence of suicidal ideation in adolescents with depression. Moreover, the severity of depression, sex, sleep time, and learning pressure are all related to suicidal ideation. Early recognition and treatment of suicidal ideation can effectively prevent the occurrence of suicide among adolescent patients.

Suicide ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt among left-behind children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

There are an increasing number of studies that discussed suicide ideation (SI), suicide plan (SP), and suicide attempt (SA) among left-behind children (LBC). However, the prevalence of these indicators of LBC has not been synthesized and the true correlation between these indicators and left-behind status remains unclear.

METHODS

Electronic databases were comprehensively searched, and eligible observational studies were selected to extract useful data. We pooled the rates and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to determine the prevalence of SI, SP, and SA among LBC. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated to reflect the association between left-behind status and risk of SI, SP, and SA.

RESULTS

Among LBC, the pooled prevalence was 18.7% (95% CI: 15.4-21.9) for SI, 6.4% (95% CI: 4.7-8.1) for SP, and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.6-3.6) for SA. Compared to non-LBC, LBC was at higher risk of SI (OR = 1.26), SP (OR = 1.20), and SA (OR = 1.14), but only the effect for SI achieved statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the prevalence of SI, SP, and SA is common among LBC, and parental migration has a significant impact on the SI of LBC. Intervention plans and programs are urgently needed to prevent suicidality of this vulnerable group.

Gender-based Multilevel Analysis of Influential Factors for Suicide Attempts among At-risk Non-referred Adolescents in Korea

Objective

Effective suicide prevention for at-risk adolescents requires increased access to medical treatment. Investigating the unique characteristics of suicide in this vulnerable at-risk non-referred sample can contribute to establishing effective suicide prevention policies. This study aimed to (a) examine at-risk non-referred adolescents’ suicide attempt rate, (b) investigate influential multilevel factors in predicting these adolescents’ suicide attempts, and (c) compare the results of (a) and (b) by gender.

Methods

A total of 401 samples (216 boys and 185 girls) were recruited through a school-based mental health project for at-risk adolescents. Multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed at the individual-, contextual-, and protective levels to evaluate three multilevel models as well as to investigate predictabilities for the overall group and by gender.

Results

The suicide attempt rate of the overall sample was 29.4% (boys: 18.1%, girls: 42.7%), which was significantly higher than that of community samples. For boys, individual-level predictors (depression and conduct problems) had the most significant contribution in predicting suicide attempts. In contrast, for girls, protective-level predictors (family satisfaction) contributed the most to the prediction of suicide attempts, followed by contextual-level predictors (academic grades).

Conclusion

This study is an important step in understanding the unique characteristics of at-risk non-referred adolescents who have not yet been considered in mental health policies. Improving medical accessibility will be the first step in establishing effective suicide prevention policies for these vulnerable samples.

Influence of Area-Level Characteristics on the Suicide Rate in Korean Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the influence of area-level factors on adolescent suicide and to determine which variables differ according to age and sex.

METHODS

We selected variables that were available for collection through an online database from 2005 to 2015 in the Korean Statistical Information Service and the Korea Labor Institute. We used administrative districts of Korea in 2017 for geographical classification. We examined the relationships between regional suicide rates and area-level variables in male and female subjects aged 10-14 years and 15-19 years. In addition, we analyzed area-level variables in adolescents aged 15-19 years according to sex.

RESULTS

Our findings indicated that several area-level variables affected adolescent suicide rates, varying according to age and sex. Economic problems were shown to be more associated with suicide in male adolescents than in female adolescents. On the other hand, social fragmentation and health services were shown to be more associated with suicide in females.

CONCLUSION

Suicide in adolescents was attributable to area-level factors such as economic status, social fragmentation, and community health services. By identifying area-level variables affecting adolescent suicide rates, we will be able to contribute to implement mental health policies related to adolescent suicide.

Effects of Self-Esteem on the Association between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents

Negative life events (NLEs) increase the risk of suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents. However, it is not known whether the association between NLEs and SI can be moderated by self-esteem and varies with gender. The aim of the current paper was to examine gender differences in the association of SI with NLEs in adolescents, and assess the effects of self-esteem on the association and their gender variations. We conducted a school-based health survey in 15 schools in China between November 2013 and January 2014. A total of 9704 participants aged 11–19 years had sociodemographic data reported and self-esteem (Rosenberg self-esteem scale), NLEs, and SI measured. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of having SI in relation to NLEs. Increased risk of SI was significantly associated with NLEs (adjusted OR 2.19, 95%CI 1.94–2.47), showing no gender differences (in females 2.38, 2.02–2.80, in males 1.96, 1.64–2.36, respectively). The association was stronger in adolescents with high esteem (2.93, 2.34–3.68) than those with low esteem (2.00, 1.65–2.42) (ORs ratio 1.47, p = 0.012). The matched figures in females were 3.66 (2.69–4.99) and 2.08 (1.61–2.70) (1.76, p = 0.006), while in males these figures were 2.27(1.62–3.19) and 1.89 (1.41–2.53) (1.20, p = 0.422), respectively. Self-esteem had moderate effects on the association between NLEs and SI in adolescents, mainly in females. NLEs, self-esteem, and gender need to be incorporated into future intervention programs to prevent SI in adolescents.

Stressful life events, insomnia and suicidality in a large sample of Chinese adolescents

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the associations between stressful life events, insomnia, and suicidality including suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plan (SP) and suicide attempt (SA) in a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 11,831 adolescents who participated in the baseline survey of Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort were included for the analysis. Participants were sampled from 8 middle/high schools in 3 counties of Shandong, China. Participants completed a structured behavior and health questionnaire, including suicidality, demographics, depression/anxiety, stressful life events (SLEs), and insomnia in November-December 2015. A series of logistic regression models and mediation analyses were performed to examine the associations between SLEs, insomnia and suicidality.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of overall suicidality, SI, SP and SA in the last year were 13.1%, 12.5%, 3.3%, and 1.5%, respectively. SLEs were significantly associated with overall suicidality, SI, and SP. Insomnia was an independent risk factor of suicidality and a mediator of the association between SLEs and suicidality. The total effect of SLEs on overall suicidality was 0.597 (95%CI: 0.534-0.661), including 0.457 (95%CI: 0.391-0.523) for direct effect and 0.158 (95%CI: 0.138-0.178) for indirect effect. Insomnia also mediated the associations of SLEs with SI, SP and SA, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

Causal relationship could not be concluded because this study is cross-sectional.

CONCLUSIONS

Stressful life events and insomnia are directly associated with suicidality in adolescents. The association between SLEs and suicidality is partially mediated by insomnia.