Let's Live Healthier: The Relationship between Suicidal Behavior and Physical Activity in an Age-, Gender-, and Body Mass Index-Matched Adults

Association between a changeable lifestyle, sedentary behavior, and suicide risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Suicide and self-injury have become increasingly serious public health crises. Yet current evidence about the association between sedentary behavior (SB) and suicide is inconclusive. We explore the relationship between SB and suicide behavior to provide intervention measures to change the risk factors of the latter.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from database inception to September 10, 2023. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect measures. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on gender, regions and countries, age, and study type.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were included. According to the meta-analysis of suicide type, compared with individuals without sedentary behavior, individuals with sedentary behavior have a higher risk of suicide attempt (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.15-1.37, p < 0.001), suicide ideation (OR = 1.47, 95%CI:1.28-1.68, p < 0.001) and suicide plan (OR = 1.30, 95%CI:1.16-1.44, p < 0.001). We conducted multiple subgroup analyses for different suicidal behaviors. The analysis found that SB can increase the risk of suicide attempt in different subgroups of different genders, different research centers, Africa, and adolescents; SB can increase the risk of suicide ideation in the subgroups of different genders and ages, different research centers, Asia and Africa; SB can increase the risk of suicide plan in the subgroups of different genders, multi-center study, Africa, and adolescents.

LIMITATIONS

Future research should focus on objective SB measurement and explore its dose-response relation and time limit.

CONCLUSION

A sedentary lifestyle is associated with suicide behavior risk, with varying effects across age groups and regions, as evidenced in both single-center and multi-center studies.

Physical activity trajectories of different grade levels of male adolescents in association of academic performance and mental health

Regularly performed daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) is recommended to promote physical and mental health in adolescents. However, sedentary behavior has been reported with ever-increasing demand for competition without clear understanding of the relationship between PA and mental health and academic performance. Therefore, this study observed the changes in the amount PA in 6 grade levels in relation to mental health and academic performance. This study analyzed the amount of moderate and vigorous PA, sedentary time, mental health, and academic performance in male adolescents of 6 middle to high school grade levels by sedentary group (SG: 2 or less min/wk) and physical activity group (PG: 3 or more min/wk) groups depending on the days of weekly PA. The most weekly moderate and vigorous PA duration significant reduced by 29.4% (*P<0.01) and -43.8% (*P<0.01) for H2 in comparison to M1 in SG. The greatest increase in sitting duration 744.95±470.27 min/wk (*P<0.01) was shown by SG. Significant increase in loneliness degree was shown throughout the grade levels of M3 to H3 (2.41±1.08 to 2.50±1.06, *P<0.01) in SG. Degree of stress also significantly increased from M3 to H3 (2.69±0.98, *P<0.01 to 2.90±0.96, *P<0.01) in SG. Finally, perceived academic performance by the days of PA did not show clear difference between SG and PG. In conclusion, regularly performed PA male adolescents showed greater duration of moderate and vigorous PA without negatively influencing mental health and academic performance. Moreover, well controlled academic performance and sitting duration were shown.

Differences in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Mental Health of the Older Population in South Korea Based on Marital Status and Gender

The primary purpose of the present study was to assess differences in physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and mental health (i.e., depression, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive function) by marital status (i.e., married and widowed) within an aging population in South Korea. PA, SB, and mental health were evaluated in 9092 older adults by comparing the married group (n = 5773, 73.2 ± 5.9 years, 63.5%) to the widowed group (n = 3319, 75.8 ± 6.8 years, 36.5%). Between-group differences in PA, SB, depression, and cognitive function were tested using independent t-tests, and the association between marital status and gender was evaluated using two-way ANOVA. Suicidal thoughts were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U-test. Older adults in the widowed group participated in significantly less PA (p < 0.001) and had higher SB (p < 0.001) per week, especially the widows, who had significantly less PA (p < 0.01) and had higher SB (p < 0.001) compared to married women. Participants in the widowed group experienced more depression (p < 0.001) and suicidal thoughts (p < 0.001) and had significantly lower cognitive function compared to participants in the married group (p < 0.001). Between the two groups, widowers were more vulnerable to all mental health factors compared to those in the married group. At the same time, widows were only more vulnerable to depression and cognitive function compared to women in the married group. Findings indicated that the presence of a spouse is strongly associated with higher PA levels, lower SB, and better mental health among older adults. Spouses are the primary social supports and play a major role in the health and emotional well-being of the aging population. Given the importance of the spouse, our study suggests that health educators working with older widows should prioritize several different forms of social support to benefit their physical and mental health.

Psychosocial job stressors and risk of suicidal behavior - an observational study among Swedish men

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the relationship between psychosocial job stressors and suicidal behavior (fatal and non-fatal) among Swedish men while controlling for potential confounders.

METHODS

Population-based Swedish longitudinal cohort study of male conscripts without previous self-harm (N=1 483 310) enlisting 1968-2002. Conscription examinations included measures of IQ, stress resilience and psychiatric diagnoses. Job demand-control (JDC) exposure was assessed using the Swedish Job Exposure Matrix linked to specific occupations. Suicidal behavior among men aged 30-64 was identified in the National Hospital Register (non-fatal self-harm) and Swedish Cause of Death Register (suicide) during follow-up 2002-2014. Cox regression models were used to estimate associations between JDC category and suicidal behavior.

RESULTS

In fully adjusted models, passive jobs (low demand-low control) showed the highest risk of suicidal behavior [hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-1.43] compared to those with low strain (low demand-high control), followed by high strain (high demand-low control) (HR 1.12, 95% Cl 1.03-1.22). A lower risk of suicidal behavior was found in the active category, where levels of both demand and control are high (HR 0.64, 95% Cl 0.60-0.70). Separate analyses for suicide as outcome revealed a lower risk of suicide in persons with active jobs (high demands-high control). The passive category showed a higher risk for suicide, but the association did not remain after adjustment for stress resilience and IQ.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that psychosocial job stressors among men are associated with risk for suicidal behavior. Improving job control has the potential to decrease suicidal behavior for this group.