Yuanyuan Xiao1, Ying Chen2, Wei Chang2, Yiqi Pu3, Xue Chen3, Jieyun Guo4, Yuting Li3, Fang Yin3. 1. School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, United States. Electronic address: 33225647@qq.com. 2. School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 3. The Second Affiliated School of Clinical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. 4. Health Center of Mashan Township, Yuecheng District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Psychologically distressed rural Chinese left-behind children (LBC) are at an increased risk of suicide. However, within this population, suicide and potential associated factors are severely under-discussed. This study primarily aims to explore the association between perceived social support and suicide ideation (SI), and to discuss the possible mediating role of depression in this association. METHOD: A population representative sampling survey was carried out with 2,898 LBC in southwest China. Relevant information was collected by means of face-to-face interviews. Binary and ordinal logistic regression models were employed to screen factors associated with perceived social support, depression and SI. Path analysis was applied to estimate the direct and indirect associations between social support and SI. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that, among the four sources, perceived social support from relatives living together, friends, and parents, but not teachers, was inversely associated with SI in LBC. Moreover, depression and SI were strongly associated with each other: Compared with non-depressed LBC, depressed LBC were 6.76 (95%CI: 3.85, 11.87) times more likely to report prominent SI. Path analysis revealed that it is possible that the association between perceived social support and SI was almost entirely mediated by depression. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social support from relatives living together, friends, and parents may be a protective factor against SI among rural Chinese LBC. Intervention strategies and measures that are targeted towards improving social support, especially cultivating closeness between LBC and their grandparents, could be effective in reducing SI in LBC.
OBJECTIVE: Psychologically distressed rural Chinese left-behind children (LBC) are at an increased risk of suicide. However, within this population, suicide and potential associated factors are severely under-discussed. This study primarily aims to explore the association between perceived social support and suicide ideation (SI), and to discuss the possible mediating role of depression in this association. METHOD: A population representative sampling survey was carried out with 2,898 LBC in southwest China. Relevant information was collected by means of face-to-face interviews. Binary and ordinal logistic regression models were employed to screen factors associated with perceived social support, depression and SI. Path analysis was applied to estimate the direct and indirect associations between social support and SI. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that, among the four sources, perceived social support from relatives living together, friends, and parents, but not teachers, was inversely associated with SI in LBC. Moreover, depression and SI were strongly associated with each other: Compared with non-depressed LBC, depressed LBC were 6.76 (95%CI: 3.85, 11.87) times more likely to report prominent SI. Path analysis revealed that it is possible that the association between perceived social support and SI was almost entirely mediated by depression. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social support from relatives living together, friends, and parents may be a protective factor against SI among rural Chinese LBC. Intervention strategies and measures that are targeted towards improving social support, especially cultivating closeness between LBC and their grandparents, could be effective in reducing SI in LBC.
Authors: Yuanyuan Xiao; Fang Liu; Hailiang Ran; Wenhang Deng; Yusan Che; Die Fang; Ahouanse Roland Donald Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-11-09 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: P J Chen; N Mackes; C Sacchi; A J Lawrence; X Ma; R Pollard; M Matter; C Morgan; S Harding; G Schumann; C Pariante; M A Mehta; G Montana; C Nosarti; P Dazzan Journal: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Date: 2022-03-30 Impact factor: 6.892