• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of adolescents hospitalized through the emergency room for intentional self-harm or suicide attempts. Methods: This retrospective study used data from the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey conducted between 2006 and 2018 for individuals aged 10-24 years. The clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed and compared across sex and age groups using the Rao-Scott chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis for complex survey data. Results: The most common psychiatric diagnosis was mood disorder (22.0%), and more female patients were diagnosed with it than male patients (p=0.010). The 19-24 years age group was diagnosed with mood disorder the most compared to other younger groups (p=0.012). Male patients used lethal methods more than female patients (p=0.008), and the 19-24 years age group used more drug poisoning and cutting or piercing (p<0.001) for intentional self-harm or suicide attempts than younger groups. Conclusion: Adolescents hospitalized for intentional self-harm or suicide attempts showed significant differences in clinical characteristics across sex and age groups. These findings suggest that measures for preventing self-harm or suicide attempts need to be differentiated according to the sex and age of adolescents.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.34-42
• /
• 2005

Purposes: The purposes of this study were ① to identify the rate of suicide attempts, and ② to investigate relevant variables(family dynamic environment, personality factors) and risk factors for attempting suicide among Korean adolescents. Method: Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. Internal consistencies for this questionnaire ranged from 0.63 to 0.88. Nine hundred and twenty two adolescents were surveyed (delinquent : 367, student : 555), using a proportional stratified random sampling method. Statistical methods employed were chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: ① The rate of suicide attempts was 10.8％ for the total sample, and the delinquents(19.6％) had a higher rate of suicide attempts than the students(5.1％). ② Adolescents attempting suicide had a greater dysfunctional family dynamic environment and more maladaptive personality than those who did not attempt suicide. ③ Risk factors for suicide attempts among Korean adolescents were way of coping, psychosomatic symptoms, and parental child-rearing attitudes, in that order. Conclusions: Suicide and suicidal behaviors are multifaceted events. For suicide prevention, there is a need to make an independent assessment of the variables such as familial problems, personality and dynamic environment of the families of the adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.345-375
• /
• 2010

This study is aimed at investigating the effects of school violence on adolescent depression and suicide, where both the mediating effects of resilency and the gender diffences are considered. The data, collected from 664 high and middle school students, were examined by the statistics software SPSS 17.0 and AMOS 17.0, in which descriptive statistics, factor analysis, structural equation model analysis, and multi-group simultaneous analysis are utilized. As a result, it is shown from the structural equation modeling that school violence have positive effects on depression and suicide, but negative effects on family and academic resiliency. Both ego and family resiliency act as protective factors, negatively affecting the depression. In addition, the family resiliency had negative effects on suicide. The results of multi-group simultaneous analysis imply that school violence have different effects on suicide and family resiliency respectively, depending on gender differences. Female adolescents are affected more strongly than male adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.294-301
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study investigated factors related to suicide in high school students and focused on perceived academic performance. Methods : We surveyed 293 grade 10 high-school students in Jeju and Gyeonggi provinces and gave them self-assessment questionnaires. To evaluate the suicide risk, the questionnaire included questions about suicidal thoughts, plans, threats, deliberate self-injury, and suicide attempts from the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). Also, it included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Locus of Control Scale (LOC), Rosenberg's Self Esteem Scale (RSE) and Perceived Academic Performance (PAP) to identify factors related to suicide in high school students. Results : Depression, hopelessness, and low self-esteem were related with suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts, and severe suicidal ideation (SSI score${geq}$16). In the multivariate analysis, a low level of PAP (OR=3.796, 95%CI 1.280-11.257) was significantly associated with severe suicidal ideation (SSI score${geq}$16). Deliberate self-injury was most prevalent in failing the PAP group and also having a high level of PAP (OR=6.161, 95%CI 1.474-25.760). Conclusion : The authors found that the suicide risk of high school students is related to depression, hopelessness, low self-esteem and a low level of PAP. These results provide significant indicators in planning an adolescent suicide prevention program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Internet is one of the essential tools in South Korean adolescent life. Recently, researchers suggest that Internet use is positively associated with teens' mental health problems such as depression and suicide. Thus, this study explored a relationship between Internet use and suicide ideation among South Korean adolescents. Methods:　Secondary data, the three-wave Korean Youth Panel Survey, were analyzed. First, in terms of the levels of Internet use and suicidal ideation, t-test was used for examining a gender difference, and Analysis of Variance were used for examining differences across three points in time(waves 2 - 4). Second, logistic analysis was performed to examine the significant association between Internet use and suicide ideation after controlling for the other factors' effects. In this analysis, Fixed Effect Regression Method(FERM) was incorporated as well. FERM was useful in adjusting for the effects of time-invariant factors even without measuring them. As a result, it was possible to obtain more accurate findings. Results: Adolescent depression was an important factor influencing the association between Internet use and suicide ideation. After controlling for the effect of depression, the relationship between Internet use and suicide ideation was no longer statistically significant. Conclusion:　As a proxy to identify teens who are obsessed with suicide ideation, levels of Internet use do not seem useful. Instead, it is necessary to examine teens' access to websites related to suicide.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Our study aimed to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents during their first visit to psychiatric outpatient departments for the management of suicidal ideation and behavior, and to compare the changes before and in 2012 or later. Methods: This multicenter study was conducted at five university hospitals in a metropolitan area in South Korea. Medical records of patients aged 6-18 years were retrospectively reviewed from January 2009 to December 2016. Patients were analyzed by classifying them into suicidal and non-suicidal groups based on their visit to the hospital for management of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt and other mental problems, respectively. Results: There were differences in the year of visit, diagnosis, education level, and referral sources between patients in the suicidal and non-suicidal groups. Multiple regression analysis was conducted based on the sex, education level, referral by school, and diagnosis of depression in patients in the suicidal group, which revealed significant association. Conclusion: Suicide-related problems were significantly associated with the sex, education level, referral by school, and a diagnosis of depression in the patients. A well-connected referral system would be necessary for professional mental health management of high-risk children and adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2020

Objectives: There is an increasing number of North Korean adolescents in South Korea. These adolescents need clinical attention as they experience a high risk of suicidal behavior because of the childhood adversity and acculturative challenges that they face before and after arriving in South Korea. This study assessed the risk of suicide attempts among North Korean adolescents compared to South Korean adolescents, and investigated the contributing factors for each group. Methods: We used data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) spanning 2011 to 2018, in which 404 adolescents had a father and/or mother who was a North Korean native. Data on 1,212 propensity-matched South Korean adolescents were extracted from the 2011 to 2018 KYRBS. Prevalence was calculated and compared by group. Separate odds ratios were calculated by group. Results: The North Korean group had a significantly higher suicide attempt rate [unadjusted odds ratio (OR)=8.27; adjusted OR=8.45]. Multivariate analysis indicated that having a low or high socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with suicide attempts in North Korean adolescents, while being female, having a high socioeconomic status, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicide attempts in South Korean adolescents. Conclusion: The results found similarities and differences in the factors associated with the likelihood of suicide attempts in the two groups. From these results, different approaches are needed when planning interventions for each group.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.250-257
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Adolescents are at risk of suicide. As suicide is a multifactorial process, risk and protective factors are relevant constructs for suicide prediction. This study explored the effects of risk and protective factors on suicidal ideation in adolescents on the island of São Miguel (Azores). Methods: A sample of 750 adolescents (male: n=358; 47.7%; mean age=14.67 years; standard deviation=1.85 years) from the island of São Miguel (Azores) completed several measures related to suicidal ideation and associated factors. Using a cross-sectional design, this study conducted descriptive, correlational, predictive, mediation, and moderation analyses. Results: Adolescents generally displayed high levels of risk and protective factors; an indicative proportion exhibited significant suicidal ideation with females presenting the greatest vulnerability. Furthermore, the results highlight that depression is the best predictor of suicidal ideation, however, the association between these variables is mediated. Conclusion: The data corroborate that the suicidal reality of adolescents in the Autonomous Region of the Azores is worrisome. Having substantiated the complexity of the suicidal context in young people in the present research, the need to continue studying risk/protective factors in this area is supported.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.152-158
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the associations between Internet addiction and suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among South Korean adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1694 Korean adolescents. The suicidal Ideation Questionnaire and Deliberate Self-Harm Inventories were used to identify high-risk suicide and NSSI groups, respectively. Internet addiction was assessed using the Internet Addiction Scale. Other questionnaires included sociodemographic data, perceived academic stress, and daily life-related factors. We also performed a logistic regression analysis using the high suicide risk and NSSI groups as dependent variables. Results: The high suicide risk and NSSI prevalence rates among participants were 11.8% and 28.3%, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that Internet addiction is associated with higher suicide risk and NSSI. Additionally, being female and academic stress were significant suicide risk factors, while male participants had a higher NSSI prevalence. Conclusion: Our results suggest that monitoring adolescents' Internet use and providing education to prevent Internet addiction would lower high suicide and NSSI risk. Moreover, suicide and NSSI risk screening in adolescents with Internet addiction and providing suitable interventions will be essential for the preventing suicide and NSSI.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The objective of this study was to identify the risky behavior subtypes in adolescents with depression, and the relationship between those subtypes and suicide attempt. Methods : Ninety adolescents who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition criteria for major depressive disorder, dysthymia, or depressive disorder not otherwise specified participated in the study. Participants were interviewed about suicidal attempts, non-suicidal self-injuries. Smoking, drinking behaviors, and searching for the word "suicide" on the internet, negative life events including bulling-bullied experiences, and history of abuse were also included with questionnaires. Results : The results of cluster analysis showed that four risky behaviors were divided into three clusters : non-risky type, characterized by few risky behaviors ; delinquency type, which was characterized by smoking and drinking ; non-suicidal self-injury type. In non-suicidal self-injury type, percentage of girls was higher and clinical symptoms were more severe than delinquency type. In addition, delinquency type members could be a bully, while non-suicidal self-injury type members could be abused by a family member. Logistic regression analysis showed that both risky behavior subtypes were significant predictors of suicide attempt. Conclusion : These results suggest that two types of risky behaviors of depressed adolescents have an effect on the suicide attempts independently. Then, the implications and limitations of the study were discussed and directions for future studies were suggested.