Parent-reported suicidal behavior and correlates among adolescents in China.
BACKGROUND
Suicidal risk begins to increase during adolescence and is associated with multiple biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors. This study examined the prevalence and psychosocial factors of parent-reported suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents.


METHODS
A community sample of 1920 adolescents in China participated in an epidemiological study. Parents completed a structured questionnaire including child suicidal behavior, illness history, mental health problems, family history, parenting, and family environment. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis.


RESULTS
Overall, 2.4% of the sample talked about suicide in the previous 6 months, 3.2% had deliberately hurt themselves or attempted suicide, and 5.1% had either suicidal talk or self-harm. The rate of suicidal behavior increased as adolescents aged. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that the following factors were significantly associated with elevated risk for suicidal behavior: depressive/anxious symptoms, poor maternal health, family conflict, and physical punishment of parental discipline style.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidal behavior was reported by parents. No causal relationships could be made based on cross-sectional data.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of parent-reported suicidal behavior is markedly lower than self-reported rate in previous research. Depressive/anxious symptoms and multiple family environmental factors are associated with suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents.
Liu
Xianchen
X
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213, USA. xcliu@pitt.edu
Sun
Zhenxiao
Z
Yang
Yanyun
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011678:Punishment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires