Original articleSuicidality and correlates among rural adolescents of China
Section snippets
Participants and Procedure
This study represents one part of an epidemiological survey of mental health problems among rural adolescents of China, which was carried out in a rural prefecture of Shandong Province, in eastern China [23], [24], [25]. After considering the geographic distribution, time and financial constraints, and sample size, we planned to recruit a total of 1,400 students grades 6–12 (200 students for each grade) from 5 or 6 public high schools in this area. According to our requirement, the prefecture
Prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts
Overall, 19.3% of the sample reported having thought about killing themselves during the past 6 months, 10.5% reported having deliberately tried to hurt or kill themselves, and 7.0% met the criteria for suicide attempts. Age and gender differences in the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are presented in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively.
As shown in Figure 1, female adolescents were more likely to report suicidal ideation than males (22.0% vs. 17.5%, χ2 = 4.27, P = .039).
Discussion
To our knowledge, this report represents one of the first on the prevalence and correlates of suicidality among adolescents in rural China. Major findings of this study include: (1) Approximately 19% of the sample reported having suicidal ideation and 7% reported having suicide attempts during the past 6 months; (2) The rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts markedly increased with age; (3) Female adolescents displayed higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts as they
Acknowledgment
This study was supported in part by the Shandong Medical Research Foundation, People’s Republic of China, and the Multi-Investigator Proposal Development Grant Program, Arizona State University.
References (40)
- et al.
Suicide rates in China, 1995–99
Lancet
(2002) Diagnosis of childhood and adolescent suicidal behaviorunmet needs for suicide prevention
Biol Psychiatry
(2001)- et al.
Risk factors for suicide in Chinaa national case-control psychological autopsy study
Lancet
(2002) - et al.
Youth suicide risk and preventive interventionsa review of the past 10 years
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
(2003) - et al.
Gender differences in suicide attempts from adolescence to young adulthood
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
(2001) - et al.
Psychiatric risk factors for adolescent suicidea case-control study
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
(1993) - et al.
Suicide, high-risk behaviors, and coping style in homeless adolescent males’ adjustment
J Adolesc Health
(2004) - et al.
Sleep duration, insomnia and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescents
Psychiatry Res
(2002) Cigarette smoking, life stress and psychopathology in Chinese adolescents
J Adolesc Health
(2003)- et al.
Psychopathology associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among children and adolescents
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
(1998)
The global burden of disease
An epidemiological profile of suicides in Beijing, China
Suicide Life Threat Beh
Suicide in contemporary Chinaa review of China’s distinctive suicide demographics in their sociocultural context
Harv Rev Psychiatry
Psychosocial risk factors of child and adolescent completed suicide
Ach Gen Psychiatry
Risk and resiliency influencing suicidality among urban African and Latino youth
Am J Community Psychol
Suicidal thoughts and their relationship to family stress and personal problems among high school seniors and college undergraduates
Adolescence
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2001
J Sch Health
Risk factors for adolescent suicide and suicidal behaviormental and substance abuse disorders, family environmental factors, and life stress
Suicide Life Threat Beh
Suicide in childhood and early adolescence
J Child Psychol Psychiatry
Locus of control in young women who have attempted suicide
J Nerv Ment Dis
Cited by (135)
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: International Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt in Youth
2023, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryRural-urban differences in prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression in a large sample of Chinese
2023, Journal of Affective DisordersDepressive symptoms as a mediator between perceived social support and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents
2022, Journal of Affective DisordersDoes depressive symptoms, physical inactivity and substance use catalyze the suicidal tendency among adolescents? Evidence from a cross-sectional study
2020, Children and Youth Services ReviewDigital media use and subsequent self-harm during a 1-year follow-up of Chinese adolescents
2020, Journal of Affective DisordersSolution or isolation: Is boarding school a good solution for left-behind children in rural China?
2020, China Economic Review