title: Internet use and web communication networks, sources of social support, and forms of suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury among adolescents: different patterns between genders.
abstract: The relationships of Internet use, web communication, and sources of social support with adolescent self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in Taiwan were investigated. The study sample of 391 12 to 18-year-olds was selected from nine public high schools. Findings show that girls are more likely to have SITBs, except for suicide gestures. Web communication is a risk factor for SITBs in boys but not in girls. Family support is protective in both genders. Support from friends is protective and support from significant others was a risk factor for suicide plans in girls. Support from virtual social communities can have both positive and negative effects on adolescent SITBs, with different effects by gender.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-Yi
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Hao-Jan
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention