Citation

Xing XY, Tao FB, Hao JH, Xu SJ, Su PY, Huang ZH. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2009; 30(1): 21-25.

Affiliation

Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230032, China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Zhonghua yi xue hui)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

19565842

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to examine possible relationship between attempted suicide and underachievement, bullying, low life satisfaction and low self-concept at school. METHODS: An anonymous self-report survey assessing demographic characteristics and the major risk factors of teenage attempted suicide was completed by students from 16 middle schools in grades seven to twelve in 4 counties of Anhui province (age 10 to 21 years). An anonymous questionnaire was used to rate attempted suicide, bullying involvement and learning performance. Attempted suicide was defined as: experiencing specific suicide actions at least one time during the 12 months preceding the survey. Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale and Children' s Self-concept Scale were used to evaluate satisfaction and self-conscience on and at respectively. In total, 10 894 respondents substantially completed the survey. Multiple logistic-regression analyses, controlling for socio-demographic variables, was used to analyze if underachievement, bullying, low school life satisfaction and low children' s self-conscience at school had been risk factors. RESULTS: 629 participants (5.8%) reported having made at least one attempted suicide within the last 12 months. Students being underachieved were significantly having more attempted suicide events than those excellent students (chi2 = 11.39, P = 0.023). Students being both bully-victims and practiced bully were significantly more than those being only practiced bully (28.7% vs. 15.8% , P < 0.001), being victims (28.7% vs. 10.6% , P < 0.001) or having neither of them (28.7% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.001). Results from multiple logistic regression analyses showed that underachievement, bullying, lower school life satisfaction and low self conscience were risk factors for attempted suicide. CONCLUSION: Data from this study confirmed that school bullying and children' s self-conscience at school were significantly associated with attempted suicide among rural middle school students in Anhui province. It is of importance to improve the school' s environments to reduce the risk of attempted suicide among this group.

Language: zh