The impact of internet use frequency on non-suicidal self injurious behavior and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: an empirical study based on gender perspective

• Published in: BMC public health 2020-11, Vol.20 (1), p.1727-1727, Article 1727
• Main Authors: Yang, Xueyan, Xin, Moye, Liu, Kun, Böke, Bilun Naz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Child; China - epidemiology; Cities - epidemiology; Communication; Demographic aspects; Empirical analysis; Empirical Research; Female; Females; Gender; Gender aspects; Gender difference; Health aspects; Humans; Impact analysis; Injury analysis; Instant messaging; Internet; Internet Use - statistics & numerical data; Internet use frequency; Male; Males; Middle school students; Middle schools; NSSI; Prevalence; Psychological aspects; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Schools; Self destructive behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Sex differences; Sex Distribution; Software; Statistical analysis; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Suicidal behavior; Suicidal Ideation; Suicides & suicide attempts; Technology application; Teenagers; Universities; University students; Young Adult; Youth
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09866-0

We attempted to find if there were gender differences in Non-suicidal self injurious (NSSI) behaviors and Suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents, then analyze the impact of Internet use frequency on these variables among adolescents of different genders. Based on the data from 6 high-schools and 4 universities in 4 cities in China, the gender difference in NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation and their related factors were analyzed in the study. Gender differences were found during different purposes of Internet use; There was no significant gender difference in NSSI behaviors among Chinese adolescents, yet females reported significantly higher intensity of suicidal ideation compared to males; Internet use frequency could explain the prevalence of NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation by gender, to some categories. There were gender differences in Internet use frequency among adolescents; Gender difference of NSSI engagement among Chinese adolescents was not statistically significant; Females had higher suicidal ideation than males; the overuse of social softwares was found to be a risk factor to both NSSI engagements and suicidal ideations for both genders; males would engage less NSSI behaviors when they spent more time on knowledge sharing softwares while might have more suicidal ideation when they spent too much time on gaming.