title: Not only body weight perception but also body mass index is relevant to suicidal ideation and self-harming behavior in Japanese adolescents.
abstract: Whether a low body mass index (BMI) is directly associated with a high risk of suicidal ideation or self-harming behavior in adolescents is still inconclusive. This study has, therefore, evaluated the relevance of BMI to suicidal ideation and self-harming behavior after controlling for body weight perception (BWP) and other potential confounding factors. BMI, BWP, suicidal ideation, and self-harming behavior were all assessed using a self-report questionnaire administered to 18,104 Japanese adolescents. Potential confounding factors were also evaluated. The data were then analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Low BMI was associated with suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm when controlling for sex, age, drug use, emotional distress, and BWP. Low BMI may be an independent risk factor for suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harming behavior in Japanese adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimodera
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Norihito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akechi
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Toshiaki A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okazaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation