A characterization of self-injurious behavior among Turkish adolescents

Scoping review on socioemotional skills in the prevention of suicidal behavior among adolescents

Promoting socioemotional skills has been highlighted among the evidence to prevent suicidal behavior in childhood and adolescence. This review aimed to map and analyze national and international scientific papers on initiatives and programs for the prevention of suicidal behavior in adolescence based on the theoretical framework of socioemotional skills. It is a scoping review using the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Eleven academic bibliographic databases were analyzed, and searches were conducted on institutional websites related to suicide prevention and Google. Papers in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English from 2010 to July 2022 were included in the review, which consisted of 97 studies, analyzed through data matrix and thematic grouping. The results show that most are international and focused on suicide, not on self-harm alone. In general, they have an informational and instructional bias for professionals, institutions, and governments, proposed laws, programs and action plans, studies on the role of socioemotional skills and intervention research. Few strategies have been clearly tested and validated. The key elements are the ability to perceive, recognize, understand, express, and regulate one's own emotions, get motivated, and build empathy in relationships. Schools are key players in this process and the health system should act as a collaborative network. National and local prevention plans are required, emphasizing the role of schools, the health sector, and intersectoral coordination to promote health and quality of life.

Sex Differences in the Global Prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Importance

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a strong predictor of suicide attempts. The prevalence of NSSI has been increasing among female adolescents in North America and Europe, but less is known about trends in other geographical regions.

Objective

To examine sex differences in the prevalence of NSSI among adolescents within and between geographical regions.

Data Sources

MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched using the keywords adolescents, self-injury, sex factors, and synonyms for articles published in English between January 1, 2000, and May 10, 2022.

Study Selection

Studies were included if they presented original data (any study design), included adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, reported results stratified by sex, and explicitly defined self-injury as behaviors occurring without suicidal intent.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

This meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO and conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Articles were assessed for quality by 2 independent coders (F.M. and J.A.). A random-effects model was used to calculate prevalence. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to April 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The prevalence of NSSI in male and female adolescents within and between regions was the main outcome. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were calculated for community samples.

Results

Eight hundred and two studies were screened, and 38 were included (266 491 participants). Across 17 countries, the pooled prevalence of NSSI was 17.7% (female:male OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.29-1.98). NSSI was twice as prevalent among female adolescents compared with male adolescents in North America (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 2.16-2.86) and Europe (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.69-2.58), but not in Asia (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.71-1.41).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this meta-analysis of sex differences in global prevalence of NSSI, the female predominance of NSSI observed among adolescents in North America and Europe aligned with rising rates of suicide in these populations. The comparable prevalence of NSSI among male and female adolescents in Asia also aligned with the lower male-to-female suicide ratio compared with other countries. More research is needed to characterize regional (and potentially cultural) sex differences among adolescents with NSSI to prevent and treat the behavior and to understand the possible interplay with corresponding regional trends in suicide.

Suicide Ideation and Self-Harm Behaviors in First-Year Dormitory Students at a Public Midwestern University: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Currently, 1 in 5 college students struggle with suicidal ideation while 7% to 44% engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. Illinois has one of the highest teenage and college student suicide rates in the United States. This pilot study assessed suicide ideation and self-harm behaviors at a public Illinois university. This is the first study to use 5 standardized psychological instruments to investigate these 2 crises in freshmen college students who are all required to reside in dormitories. The main hypothesis was to determine if the independent effects of freshmen students' depression, Five-Factor Model, and Reasons for Living affected the dependent variables, self-harm behaviors and suicide ideation. Methods: Forty first-year college dormitory students completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Scale of Suicidal Ideation, Five-Factor Model, Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, and Reasons for Living Scale in person. Results: Participants were 18 to 19 years old, predominantly female (65%), and non-White (62%). Forty percent reported self-harm behaviors and 19% reported suicidal ideation. The top reasons for contemplated suicide attempts included the inability to solve problems (33%) and attention/revenge (28%). Students experienced high levels of anxiety (55%), self-consciousness (43%), and depression (18%). Depression was associated with suicide ideation (β = 0.05, P = .006), while neuroticism and openness were associated with self-harm behaviors (aOR = 3.36, P = .02, aOR = 0.48, P = .047, respectively). Ninety-five percent reported "responsibility to family" as a Reason for Living. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence necessitates an examination of self-harm and suicide ideation among all freshmen, investigating both risk and protective factors. In the future, a prevention intervention should be implemented campus-wide (and eventually nationwide) for all first-year dormitory students to enhance their mental well-being.

Ways of coping with excessive academic stress among Korean adolescents during leisure time

PURPOSE

Korean adolescents are under excessive academic pressure because of the competitive college entrance examination. This study examined the characteristics of coping strategies on the academic stress experienced by senior high school students in Korea.

METHODS

A total of 11 adolescents who were preparing for the college entrance examination participated in this study. This study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews. A constructive grounded theory was employed to capture the characteristics of stress-coping strategies among adolescents.

RESULTS

After analyzing the data, we identified four themes as strategic attributes of stress-coping for academic stress among Korean adolescents: (a) creating coping strategies in a physically active manner; (b) creating coping strategies in a non-physical and positive form; (c) utilizing maladaptive coping mechanisms; and (d) relying upon religious belief and spiritual power.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that Korean adolescents developed their own coping strategies to deal with various academic stressors through either positive or negative forms of leisure.