Allergic diseases, excessive Internet use and suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between suicidal ideation, allergic diseases, and excessive Internet use in Korean youth using a national representative dataset.


METHODS
Data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBWS), conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were used in this study. Complex sample logistic regression and structural equation modeling were performed to define the relation between suicidal ideation, allergic disease and excessive Internet use.


RESULTS
A total of 73,238 students participated in this survey. In Korea, 19.3% of adolescents had suicidal ideation in the previous year. Asthma (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.15-1.32, p<0.01) and allergic rhinitis (OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.11-1.22, p<0.01) were identified as risk factors for suicidal ideation after adjusting for school and family factors. Structural equation modeling showed that excessive Internet use interacted with the association between allergic diseases and suicidal ideation.


CONCLUSIONS
Allergy problems could positively affect suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents. Excessive Internet use could be a mediating factor between allergic disease and suicidal ideation.
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Dongyun
D
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Ji-Yeong
JY
Seo
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. Electronic address: psy@gnu.ac.kr.
Cheol-Soon
CS
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Chul-Soo
CS
Park
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Bong-Jo
BJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
Boseok
B
Cha
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
So-Jin
SJ
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States