Lan Guo1,2, Min Luo1,2, Wanxin Wang1,2, Di Xiao1,2, Chuhao Xi1,2, Tian Wang1,2, Meijun Zhao1,2, Wei-Hong Zhang3, Ciyong Lu1,2. 1. 1 Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China. 2. 2 Department of Nutrition, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Nutrition Translation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China. 3. 3 International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Uro-Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The rising rate of suicidal behavior among adolescents is a growing concern, and sex differences may induce differential exposure to prescription drug misuse or suicidal behavior. We estimated, among Chinese adolescents, (1) the prevalence of nonmedical use of prescription drugs, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts; (2) whether nonmedical use of prescription drugs was independently associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts; and (3) whether there were sex differences in the associations. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the data drawn from the 2015 National School-based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey. A total of 94,911 students completed questionnaires and qualified for our survey (response rate: 93.7%). All analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls. RESULTS: There were significant sex differences in the prevalence of opioid or sedative misuse, and the sources and reasons for nonmedical use of prescription drugs ( p < 0.05). The prevalence of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was significantly higher in girls than in boys (suicidal ideation: 17.9% among girls vs 14.1% among boys; suicide attempts: 3.5% among girls vs 2.7% among boys). Among girls, frequent use of opioids was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = [1.57, 2.17]) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio = 2.96, 95% confidence interval = [2.34, 3.74]), and frequent use of sedatives was also positively associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 2.23, 95% confidence interval = [1.91, 2.60]) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio = 4.02, 95% confidence interval = [3.25, 4.99]). These associations were also statistically significant in boys, but the magnitudes of adjusted odds ratios for the associations between frequent use of opioids and sedatives and suicidal behavior were greater in girls than boys. CONCLUSION: There exist significant sex differences in the prevalence rates of nonmedical use of prescription drugs and suicidal behavior, and the child's sex plays a role in the association between nonmedical use of prescription drugs and suicidal behavior. The significant sex differences found above may provide a basis for early identification of adolescents at high risk of suicidal behavior.
OBJECTIVE: The rising rate of suicidal behavior among adolescents is a growing concern, and sex differences may induce differential exposure to prescription drug misuse or suicidal behavior. We estimated, among Chinese adolescents, (1) the prevalence of nonmedical use of prescription drugs, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts; (2) whether nonmedical use of prescription drugs was independently associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts; and (3) whether there were sex differences in the associations. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the data drawn from the 2015 National School-based Chinese Adolescents Health Survey. A total of 94,911 students completed questionnaires and qualified for our survey (response rate: 93.7%). All analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls. RESULTS: There were significant sex differences in the prevalence of opioid or sedative misuse, and the sources and reasons for nonmedical use of prescription drugs ( p < 0.05). The prevalence of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was significantly higher in girls than in boys (suicidal ideation: 17.9% among girls vs 14.1% among boys; suicide attempts: 3.5% among girls vs 2.7% among boys). Among girls, frequent use of opioids was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84, 95% confidence interval = [1.57, 2.17]) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio = 2.96, 95% confidence interval = [2.34, 3.74]), and frequent use of sedatives was also positively associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 2.23, 95% confidence interval = [1.91, 2.60]) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio = 4.02, 95% confidence interval = [3.25, 4.99]). These associations were also statistically significant in boys, but the magnitudes of adjusted odds ratios for the associations between frequent use of opioids and sedatives and suicidal behavior were greater in girls than boys. CONCLUSION: There exist significant sex differences in the prevalence rates of nonmedical use of prescription drugs and suicidal behavior, and the child's sex plays a role in the association between nonmedical use of prescription drugs and suicidal behavior. The significant sex differences found above may provide a basis for early identification of adolescents at high risk of suicidal behavior.
Entities:
Keywords:
Nonmedical use of prescription drug; adolescents; sex differences; suicidal ideation; suicide attempts
Authors: Guilherme S Lopes; Suzette Bielinski; Ann M Moyer; Debra J Jacobson; Liwei Wang; Ruoxiang Jiang; Nicholas B Larson; Virginia M Miller; Ye Zhu; Dana C Cavanaugh; Jennifer St Sauver Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-06-30 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Di Xiao; Lan Guo; Meijun Zhao; Sheng Zhang; Wenyan Li; Wei-Hong Zhang; Ciyong Lu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-11-07 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Meiqian Gong; Sheng Zhang; Wenyan Li; Wanxin Wang; Ruipeng Wu; Lan Guo; Ciyong Lu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-08-19 Impact factor: 3.390