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Abstract
Social media use by minors has significantly increased and has been linked to depression and suicidality. Simultaneously, age-adjusted suicide rates have steadily increased over the past decade in the United States with suicide being the second most common cause of death in youth. Hence, the increase in suicide rate parallels the simultaneous increase in social media use. In addition, the rate of nonsuicidal self-injury ranges between 14% and 21% among young people. Evidence suggests that self-harming youth is more active on online social networks than youth who do not engage in self-harm behavior. The role of online social networking on deliberates self-harm and suicidality in adolescents with a focus on negative influence was assessed by conducting a systematized literature review. A literature search on “PubMed” and “Ovid Medline” using a combination of MeSH terms yielded nine articles for data extraction satisfying predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. It was found that social networking websites are utilized by suicidal and self-harming youth as a medium to communicate with and to seek social support from other users. Online social networking also leads to increased exposure to and engagement in self-harm behavior due to users receiving negative messages promoting self-harm, emulating self-injurious behavior of others, and adopting self-harm practices from shared videos. Greater time spent on social networking websites led to higher psychological distress, an unmet need for mental health support, poor self-rated mental health, and increased suicidal ideation. In conclusion, greater time spent on online social networking promotes self-harm behavior and suicidal ideation in vulnerable adolescents.
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.
... These conditions often lead to a state of despair and hopelessness, which can compel individuals to emulate suicidal acts they have been exposed to, whether through media or personal connections. The presence of mental health issues can increase vulnerability to suicidal ideation and attempts, as individuals may perceive suicide as a viable escape from their emotional turmoil [15]. The risk is compounded when there is a history of mental illness or previous suicide attempts in the family, as this can normalize the act of suicide and lower the psychological barriers to emulating such behavior [16]. ...
... Psychological factors, such as mental health disorders like depression or anxiety, increase susceptibility to emulation, especially when individuals view suicide as a solution to their distress. Personality traits like impulsivity or imitation tendencies further predispose individuals to engage in copycat suicides [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Social isolation and poor coping mechanisms also play a role. ...
... These patterns emphasize the need for gender-specific prevention strategies . Addressing these dynamics with genderspecific prevention strategies is crucial for reducing suicide rates and improving mental health outcomes [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. ...
Background: The “copycat effect” is a psychological phenomenon in which a person’s actions influence the behavior of others, leading to imitations of behaviors, events, or ideas. It is often observed in contexts such as crimes, suicides, or violent behaviors, where media coverage of an event can trigger similar reactions in other people. Usually, many studies associate the copycat phenomenon with homicide or serial crimes. Little attention is paid to the phenomenon of emulation in suicide and, therefore, to the copycat phenomenon in this context. Methods: In our study, a systematic review of the literature was carried out using keywords related to copycat and suicide. Subsequently, each study was read and analyzed. Results: The results were compared with each other and demonstrated how it is essential to mitigate the resonance of suicidal events, especially through the media and social networks. In particular, this risk of emulation is greater among young people who are exposed to a continuous external source of information through news from the web in an incessant and constant way. This risk increases most immediately after the publicity of the suicidal event in a limited period of time. Conclusions: Unfortunately, little attention is given to the analysis of the copycat phenomenon, which causes an underestimation of the data related to suicide emulation, especially from the preventive perspective of a phenomenon that is still widespread.
... Some adolescents report the pressure to share, stay connected and respond immediately to messages as a barrier to disconnecting and switching off SM (Shankleman et al., 2021). Higher time spent on SM is also related to poor sleep and poor body image (Webster et al., 2021), increased psychological distress, self-rated fair to poor mental health and suicidal ideation (Memon et al., 2018, Vidal et al., 2020. In Moss et al. (2023), prolonged use by adolescents prone to deliberate self-harm is associated with normalising these behaviours. ...
... Similarly, the use of hashtags can redirect users toward deliberate self-harm content (Moss et al., 2023). Some research shows that more than 50% of adolescents who self-harm sought online self-injury material, such as graphic content displaying scars and self-injury equipment, before self-harm, signalling the risk of desensitization and normalization of extremely unhealthy and risky behaviours (Memon et al., 2018). Tellingly, the visualization of disturbing content raises the concern of social contagion that can result in increased rates of emulation of risky or potentially fatal behaviours such as those promoted by viral challenges (Bozzola et al., 2022, Memon et al., 2018, Moss et al., 2023, Sedgwick et al., 2019. ...
... Some research shows that more than 50% of adolescents who self-harm sought online self-injury material, such as graphic content displaying scars and self-injury equipment, before self-harm, signalling the risk of desensitization and normalization of extremely unhealthy and risky behaviours (Memon et al., 2018). Tellingly, the visualization of disturbing content raises the concern of social contagion that can result in increased rates of emulation of risky or potentially fatal behaviours such as those promoted by viral challenges (Bozzola et al., 2022, Memon et al., 2018, Moss et al., 2023, Sedgwick et al., 2019. ...
This umbrella review analyses the risks and opportunities for adolescents' mental health and well-being associated with Social Media Use (SMU) and the main risk mitigation proposals presented in systematic, scoping and narrative literature reviews and meta-analyses. Following the PRIOR guidelines, we defined inclusion and exclusion criteria for Population (10-19 years), Exposure (Social Media Use) and Outcomes (Well-being, Ill-being, Mental health) and searched articles published from January 2015 to April 2023 in four databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and Pubmed. We screened titles and abstracts of 1470 publications, and after conducting the quality assessment based on the AMSTAR 2 protocol, we selected 24 articles on which we performed a thematic analysis. We highlight that the relationship between SMU and adolescents' mental health is influenced by several intervening factors: 1) individual demographic and psycho-socio characteristics, 2) individual use of Social Media (SM), and 3) SM' content and design. Furthermore, we describe the risks and opportunities associated with SMU that emerge from the reviewed articles. We discuss how the limitation to collecting SM data hinders the research on the impact of SMU and how the adoption of responsible design principles by SM platforms would contribute to introducing a societal change to achieve a population-level shift, which is harder to attain if the burden of responsible use is only attributed to individuals' choices. Finally, we discuss the opportunities brought about by upcoming regulatory frameworks, such as the EU Digital Services Act.
... Numerous experts [7] who deal with the mental health of children and adolescents have researched the relationship between the use of the Internet and social networking sites and the occurrence of psychopathological symptoms, such as depression [8][9][10][11][12], anxiety [13,14], obsessive-compulsive disorder [15][16][17], eating disorders [18], suicidal thoughts [19][20][21][22], suicide attempts [23], and self-harm, as well as the use of psychoactive substances [24]. ...
... Some authors claim that problematic, excessive use of social networking sites raises the risk of both males and females attempting suicide [19], engaging in self-harm, and having suicidal thoughts [20][21][22]49]. According to Memon et al. [20], adolescents who spend more time on online social networks are more likely to consider self-harm and suicide. ...
... Some authors claim that problematic, excessive use of social networking sites raises the risk of both males and females attempting suicide [19], engaging in self-harm, and having suicidal thoughts [20][21][22]49]. According to Memon et al. [20], adolescents who spend more time on online social networks are more likely to consider self-harm and suicide. According to Coyne et al. [50], there is a relationship between women's increased use of social media and longer average usage time and their suicide attempts. ...
... On the other hand, as smartphone adoption and wireless broadband availability drive increased social media usage, concerns related to cybercrime and identity protection remain significant, impacting the safety and credibility of influencers and their audiences (Memon et al., 2018). In Pakistan, the general population of women utilizes social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram in both positive and negative ways. ...
... The cases of body image satisfaction and self-misrepresentation in the younger population of females may be associated with overreliance on social networks, particularly Instagram (Islam & Wajid, 2023). Nevertheless, the availability of services has increased in Pakistani society and created risks for identity and cybercrimes (Memon et al., 2018). ...
Social media influence is a rapidly developing market in which influencers face unique challenges linked to their cultural context. The development of digital platforms in Pakistan has enabled influencers to endorse products and advocate for them. This study investigated the experiences and challenges of social media influencers in Pakistan. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with N= 8 Instagram influencers who each have over 10,000 followers. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyze the collected data. Five superordinate themes emerged, including identity shaping, concerns, growth and resilience, challenges, and coping strategies. The findings indicate that while influencers experience a sense of self-identity construction and financial security, women express greater concern regarding appearance and prospects than their male counterparts do. The findings of this study highlight the need for increased awareness and support for social media influencers, particularly in culturally conservative countries such as Pakistan.
... En una revisión sistemática en EE. UU., realizada por Memon et al. (19), se hallaron datos que respaldan la hipótesis de que los jóvenes que se autolesionan y tienen ideación suicida son más activos en redes sociales, las cuales predisponen a una mayor exposición y participación en el comportamiento autoagresivo debido a que los usuarios reciben mensajes negativos que promueven, emulan y adoptan prácticas de autolesión por medio de videos y mensajes. Además, se demostró que pasar más tiempo en redes sociales provoca una mayor angustia psicológica, necesidad insatisfecha de apoyo, disminución de autoeficacia en relación con sus problemas y un aumento de ideas suicidas (19). ...
... UU., realizada por Memon et al. (19), se hallaron datos que respaldan la hipótesis de que los jóvenes que se autolesionan y tienen ideación suicida son más activos en redes sociales, las cuales predisponen a una mayor exposición y participación en el comportamiento autoagresivo debido a que los usuarios reciben mensajes negativos que promueven, emulan y adoptan prácticas de autolesión por medio de videos y mensajes. Además, se demostró que pasar más tiempo en redes sociales provoca una mayor angustia psicológica, necesidad insatisfecha de apoyo, disminución de autoeficacia en relación con sus problemas y un aumento de ideas suicidas (19). ...
El suicidio es la segunda causa de muerte en adolescentes, con la depresión como el trastorno más frecuentemente asociado y cuyos síntomas pueden ser explicados por la tríada cognitiva de Beck. Se presenta el caso de una adolescente de 15 años, usuaria de redes sociales como plataforma de información o expresión de síntomas depresivos y del deseo de buscar ayuda. Ella fue finalmente atendida en una sala de emergencia y hospitalizada para el manejo de un episodio depresivo con intento suicida. El caso permite describir el proceso a través del cual una red social influye de manera directa en los trastornos del ánimo y sus consecuencias.
... It can be understood that this is a vulnerable group to social media that only focus on aspects about image and appearance. Review studies already indicate that greater time spent on online social networking promotes self-harm behavior and suicidal ideation in vulnerable adolescents (Memon, Sharma, Mohite & Jain 2018). Greater time spent on social networking websites led to higher psychological distress, an unmet need for mental health support, poor self-rated mental health, and increased suicidal ideation. ...
... Greater time spent on social networking websites led to higher psychological distress, an unmet need for mental health support, poor self-rated mental health, and increased suicidal ideation. Greater time spent on online social networking promotes self-harm behavior and suicidal ideation in vulnerable adolescents (Memon, Sharma, Mohite & Jain 2018). ...
... Moreover, it has also emerged that some young people are pushed to suicidal due to social media. Evidently, it has been reported that the persistent use of social media amongst the youth has contributed significantly to depression and suicide [23,24].On social media, young people establish social network that exposes them to cyber-bullying, which have other negative effects, such as a low-self-esteem, self-harm, and substance abuse on the victims [23]. As a result, this young people are prematurely exposed to advertisements of substances, such as drugs and end up experimenting Social Sciences with them when they are going through crises [24] and may end up harming themselves when they are under the influence [23]. ...
... Evidently, it has been reported that the persistent use of social media amongst the youth has contributed significantly to depression and suicide [23,24].On social media, young people establish social network that exposes them to cyber-bullying, which have other negative effects, such as a low-self-esteem, self-harm, and substance abuse on the victims [23]. As a result, this young people are prematurely exposed to advertisements of substances, such as drugs and end up experimenting Social Sciences with them when they are going through crises [24] and may end up harming themselves when they are under the influence [23]. ...
Youth just like people of different age bands around the world face a multitude of challenges daily and continuously in their lives. For some of them, suicide is the ultimate answer to all their battles. Suicide continues to be on the rise for concern in South Africa and the entire world. Despite authors’ attempts to understand, conceptualise, and bring awareness about it, it seems inevitable. This paper was aimed at mapping the existing literature on psychosocial factors, associated with suicide amongst youth. The author used narrative as the research method. Data was collected from different databases with a trajectory of 10 years. The author used databases, such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Jstor and Sabinet African Journals. The author used purposive sampling in selecting relevant articles using keywords. Data was then analysed thematically using thematic content analysis. The study found that youth encounter a lot of challenges, categorised under social factors, such as family, and psychological risk factors, such as psychopathology, which ultimately led them to have suicide ideation or attempt. The paper recommends an incorporation of a topic in Life Orientation for pupils in High School in South Africa, which raise awareness on the issues of mental health and conscientize parents and or guardians in symposiums about psychosocial factors, associated with suicide. The study concludes that youth around the world indeed encounter multiple challenges. Researchers should fundamentally contemplate about the programmes or guidelines of dealing with emotions that may be evoked by several crises that the youth face to normalize them.
... This is because online bullying can cause feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness, which are risk factors for self-harm. Victims of online bullying may also experience persistent and pervasive negative thoughts about themselves, leading to an increased risk of developing self-injurious behavior as a maladaptive coping mechanism (Beauroy-eustache and Mishara, 2021; Memon et al., 2018). ...
Background: Online bullying often occurs among teenagers. This is an important risk factor for self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation. This study aimed to analyze and estimate the magni¬tude of the effect of online bullying on self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Subjects and Method: This research is a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PICO model. Population: Adolescents, Intervention: Online bullying, Comparison: No online bullying, Outcome: Self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation. The research data used was obtained through Google Scholar, Science Direct, BMC Public Health, and Scopus with the keywords (“Cyberbullying”) AND (“Self-harm”) AND (“Suicidal Ideation”) AND (“Mental Health”) AND (“Cross-sectional”). Inclusion criteria were cross-sectional articles in English published from 2014 to 2024. Data analysis was carried out using the Review Manager 5.3 application. Results: Meta-analysis was conducted on 8 primary studies with outcomes for self-harm behavior and 9 primary studies with outcomes for suicidal ideation. These primary studies come from Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Iran, Australia and America. The sample size was 47,708 adolescents for self-injurious behavior outcomes and 63,173 adolescents for suicidal ideation outcomes. Adolescents with online bullying are 3.64 times more likely to have self-injurious behavior (aOR= 3.64; 95% CI= 3.14 to 4.22; p<0.001) and 2.64 times more likely to have suicidal ideation (aOR= 2.64; 95% CI= 1.94 to 3.60; p<0.001) compared to adolescents without online bullying. The funnel plot indicates the existence of publication bias which tends to reduce the true effect (underestimate) on the outcome of suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Online bullying statistically significantly increases the risk of self-injurious behavior and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Keywords: cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, self-harm, adolescents.
... En internet existen muchos espacios en los que se refuerza, promueve y glorifican los comportamientos desadaptativos como la autolesión o la conducta suicida. En una revisión llevada a cabo por Memon et al. (2018), los autores concluyen que en el caso de las conductas autolesivas una mayor exposición y participación en redes sociales se asocia con mayor malestar psicológico, una necesidad insatisfecha de apoyo de salud mental, una mala salud mental autoevaluada y un aumento de la ideación suicida. En consonancia con la argumentación realizada en este trabajo sobre la necesidad humana de recurrir en situaciones de malestar a fuentes de apoyos accesibles y sensibles, estos autores también resaltan entre sus resultados que los jóvenes que se autolesionan utilizan las redes sociales principalmente como medio para comunicarse y buscar el apoyo social y comprensión de otros iguales en su misma situación. ...
... The results of the logistic regression analysis revealed that, in terms of their influence on the dependent variable, the following variables were significant: for women, exposure to suicidal ideation, prior suicidal ideation, out-coreness centrality, and closeness centrality; for men, prior suicidal ideation, in-coreness centrality, and intensity (reciprocity); and for the overall sample, prior suicidal ideation, intensity (reciprocity), and exposure to suicidal ideation, all of which had a direct and significant impact on suicidal ideation. The explanatory power of the model was notably higher for Memon et al., 2018;Hawton et al., 2020;Westerlund & Nilsson et al., 2022; .) Masuda et al., 2013;Sueki, 2015;Li et al., 2021 .) ...
... Earlier studies show how SCO engagement is associated with higher frequency of online activity in general and mental health problems, and a self-reported need for treatment (Memon et al., 2018;Susi et al., 2023). Even though we do not know whether or how SCO engagement causes mental health problems, the results support studies that show how young people themselves perceive SCO engagement as increasing self-harm, triggering self-harm impulses, and inspiring them to try out new self-harming methods (Brennan et al., 2022;Marchant et al., 2017;Susi et al., 2023). ...
Self-harm is increasing among young people. Research highlights how engagement with texts, pictures or videos sharing self-harm content online (SCO) may escalate self-harm. However, few studies have examined young people’s experience with SCO in clinical samples. The present study aims to explore how young people who self-harm and are in treatment become and stay engaged with SCO. The data consists of in-depth interviews with 12 young females (15–19 years of age). The analysis follows the steps of Reflexive thematic analysis. Three meta-themes were identified: 1) “Engaging in self-harm content online – A way to get to know oneself,” 2) “Negative consequences and self-reflection – What am I doing to myself?”, and 3) “A need to take charge – I must take care of myself.” Engagement in SCO is discussed as a peer arena to obtain self-knowledge, self-reflection and self-protection in a digital age. Engagement with SCO can trigger self-harm and increase mental health problems but may influence affect regulation and mentalization for young people. Therapists should therefore explore patients’ engagement in digital risks like SCO to understand upsides and downsides of the activity, the difficulties in ending the engagement, and the interconnectedness between challenges in online and offline life.
... However, we contend that these inconsistent findings may be due to the diverse impacts of different types of screen time. Social media in particular has been associated with poor mental health in children [30,31], while television use has been associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety in some studies [28,32]. An investigation that compares of all types of screen time is necessary to ensure positive and negative impacts of different types of screen time do not impair the reliability of results. ...
Introduction
Social media, gaming, and other types of screen time have been associated with a number of child and adolescent mental health concerns, including NSSI, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicides. However, findings have been complicated by a quickly changing technological landscape and the COVID-19 pandemic. Inconsistent findings may be related to the dissimilar impacts of different screen time types on different age groups. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the pattern of impact of different screen time types on children and adolescents, investigating age groups of particular risk, and synthesising outcomes, recommendations, and strategies described to inform future studies and guidelines.
Methods and analysis
A systematic review will be conducted of all study types, and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The following databases will be searched for relevant publications: CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, PsychArticles, Scopus, and Web of Science. Searches will be limited by language (English). Article selection, quality evaluation, and data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Quality assessment will be conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists for the appropriate study type.
Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required since we are not using patient data. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal article, and disseminated via conference presentations.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD42023493058.
... One study found that 6.5% of people who use social media excessively have less emotional stability and agreeableness, conscientiousness, perceived control, and self-esteem [7]. Use of these platforms for more than 2 h a day is also known to increase the risk of suicidal tendencies [7,8]. ...
Background/Objectives: The increased use of social media in Mexico has given rise to the “fear of missing out” (FoMO) phenomenon, especially among adolescents. This study aimed to measure the extent of FoMO among junior high school students in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this study explored the association between FoMO levels and demographic characteristics, as well as the type and frequency of social media use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 in four junior high schools. A total of 1264 students (656 females and 608 males) aged 11–16 years completed the Fear of Missing Out Scale, adapted to the Mexican context. Data on demographics, social media usage, and school shifts were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation coefficients. Results: The mean FoMO score was 1.79 ± 0.64, with higher scores observed in females (p < 0.001) and students attending morning shifts (p = 0.001). Significant associations were found between higher FoMO scores and the use of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest (p < 0.001 for each). The most frequently used social media platforms were WhatsApp (1093), TikTok (828), and Instagram (583). Participants who used social media all week exhibited significantly higher FoMO scores than those who used it only on weekends (p < 0.001). Conclusions: FoMO is a significant phenomenon among junior high school students in Guadalajara, Mexico, particularly among females and those who use multiple social media platforms. The findings suggest a need for interventions to manage social media use and mitigate FoMO-related negative health outcomes in this population.
... However, in the sample assessed after the pandemic, there was a notable increase in both the number of methods employed for NSSI and in intrapersonal and interpersonal functionality. Thus, participants (Memon et al. 2018). Evidence shows that adolescents often learn about NSSI from external sources, such as media or peers, prior to the onset of the behaviour (Jarvi Steele, Jaffe, and Murray 2023). ...
Introduction
Recent research shows that there has been a decrease in meaning in life and an increase in hopelessness and nonsuicidal self‐injury in adolescents after the pandemic. The present study aims to address three objectives: (1) to compare the frequency, types and functions of nonsuicidal self‐injury before and after the pandemic, (2) to explore the relationship between meaning in life, hopelessness and nonsuicidal self‐injury and (3) to study differences in nonsuicidal self‐injury, meaning in life and hopelessness levels before and following the pandemic.
Methods
This research was conducted in a community sample of N = 3800 Spanish participants, including n = 1733 from the pre‐pandemic period and n = 2067 from the post‐pandemic period. Ages ranged between 11 and 19, and the average age was 14.87 ( SD = 1.58). The sample had an equal distribution by gender, with 50.5% females ( n = 1919) and 49.5% males ( n = 1881). Standardized tests such as ISAS‐II, BHS and PIL‐10 were used, as well as descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations and non‐parametric ANCOVAs of Quade controlling for age and gender to compare pre‐ and post‐pandemic variables.
Results
The results revealed a significant increase in the number of functions of nonsuicidal self‐injury, in the methods employed and in the levels of hopelessness, along with a notable decrease in meaning in life after the pandemic. However, the estimated prevalence of pre‐ and post‐pandemic nonsuicidal self‐injury remained similar. The estimated lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 24.9% ( n = 432) before the pandemic and 19.4% ( n = 401) after the pandemic. A positive correlation between nonsuicidal self‐injury and hopelessness and a negative correlation with meaning in life were observed.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that the pandemic influenced the mental health of young Spaniards and suggest it may be useful to incorporate meaning‐centred interventions in protocols to address nonsuicidal self‐injury and hopelessness in adolescent populations.
... Heavy use of social media and the Internet has been independently associated with increased suicide attempts among young people (Memon et al., 2018;Sedgwick et al., 2019). However, there is a paucity of research specifically investigating how social media use may predict specific roles in visual cyberbullying, particularly as a bystander and a victim, and how these roles may contribute to heightened internalizing symptoms and suicidal thoughts. ...
Early adolescents are increasingly engaged in visually rich social media platforms, which may lead to the involvement in visual cybervictimization, i.e., the unsolicited sharing of personal visuals, resulting in negative mental-health outcomes. The present study examined the association between social media use and suicidal ideation among early adolescents, with a focus on the mediating roles of visual cybervictimization and internalizing symptoms. The sample consisted of 1140 middle-school students from Northwestern Italy with a mean age of 12.35 years (SD = 0.97), 53.3% female, 45.1% male, and1.6% non-binary. We explored a serial mediation model, hypothesizing that increased social media engagement might lead to heightened suicidal ideation through elevated experiences of visual cybervictimization and subsequent rise in internalizing symptoms. Results indicated significant associations exist between increased social media use and both direct involvement in and bystander experiences of visual cybervictimization. Participating in visual cyberbullying events, both as victim and bystander, was significantly associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms, in turn linked to greater suicidal ideation. These findings emphasize the critical need for digital literacy and interventions targeting visual aspects of cyberbullying to mitigate its detrimental effects on youth mental health.
... In general, adolescents are often heavily exposed to issues related to suicidal tendencies and self-harming behaviours on social networking platforms. While these platforms can serve as a means of communication and seeking social support, they can also expose young individuals to negative messages promoting self-harm, which can exacerbate their involvement in such harmful behaviours 68 . Furthermore, extended use of social networking sites has been linked to elevated levels of psychological distress, unfulfilled mental health requirements, decline in self-assessed mental health, and an increased inclination towards suicidal thoughts. ...
Suicide is a significant leading cause of death among young people, particularly those struggling with mental disorders. The present study utilised data from 230 young people (aged 16–18 years) undergoing a transitional care process from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Adult Mental Health Services within the MILESTONE European project (2014–2019), a longitudinal cluster randomised controlled trial. The objectives of this study were to monitor temporal patterns of general health and social functioning over two years, to detect sex differences, and to identify factors associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours (STB) at the first and last time points. The results demonstrate a decrease in STB over the two-year follow-up period among all participants. Females exhibited a higher prevalence of STB across all time points, whereas males only exhibited STB at the nine-month follow-up. The most influential factors associated with STB were previous suicide attempts and mood disorders at baseline, and mood disorders and relational problems at the end of follow-up. These findings emphasise the importance of monitoring STB and informing young people undergoing a transitional care period about its key risk factors. Moreover, sex differences in STB suggest the need for different preventive strategies for males and females.
... Moreover, social media addiction has been correlated with numerous psychopathological variables, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and feelings of loneliness, dating fatigue, information fatigue, relationship fatigue due to an immensity of offers, and a reduction in meaningful social connections, especially among young people [5][6][7], as well as with beneficial effects such as connection, community membership, personal expression and social support [8]. Approximately 4,69% of total social media users globally are estimated to be addicted with ratings increasing up to 13% for severe levels and 25% for moderate levels with university students reporting rates of 18,4% [9,10]. ...
The current study contributes to the literature by assessing the associations between personal values, explored with Schwartz`s Portrait Values Questionnaire, social media behaviors, assessed with Bergen Scale of Social Media Addiction and Social Media Motivations to Use Scale and psychological well-being assessed with Patient Health Questionnaire-4, in a sample of first-year medical students. It was examined medical students’ personal values profiles and the perceived influence of social media on self-aspects. All participants (N = 151) were Romanian and English module students, young (average age = 19.2, SD = 1.5), 68,9% females and 31,1% males. Pearson coefficient correlation analyses were performed to verify the associations between the main four clusters of personal values (Self Transcendence, Self Enhancement, Openness to change and Conservationism) with social media behaviors and psychological wellbeing. The most frequent cluster of values was Self-Transcendence (M = 5.21) while the least was Self-Enhancement (M = 4.05). There was no significant correlation between social media addiction, psychological wellbeing and a specific cluster of values while the perception of self-aspects influenced by social media included involvement in community problems, creativity for Openness to change group (R = .24;.22, p < .05), tolerance towards sexual minorities and self-evaluation in Self Transcendence group (R = .24;.21;.42, p < .05) while Conservationism and Self Enhancement groups didn`t report any change. The findings highlight the need for awareness and education of medical students and general population in the field of Digital Ethics including social media complex impact on personal values as AI-algorithms may imply a potential destabilization and perpetual shaping of one`s behavior with still unpredictable individual and societal effects.
... (7,8) Las redes sociales, con su amplia cobertura y capacidad de penetración social y psicológica en Colombia y en el mundo, se han convertido en una herramienta de gran importancia. (9,10) La inmediatez de la información fomenta la participación ciudadana, especialmente de niños y jóvenes, lo que genera preguntas como: ¿Cómo pueden las redes sociales influir en el proceso de socialización y aprendizaje de niños y jóvenes? ...
This research examines the communicative synergy on social media as an interactive aspect in the development of early childhood education. Its objective is to analyze the communicative correlation on social media and its effects on cyberbullying, sexting, grooming, vamping, among others. Additionally, it seeks to determine the conditions of social media use by school-aged children, as well as the advantages they provide in terms of message exchange with other familiar children, friends, and relatives, known adults, friends, and family members. It also aims to identify the disadvantages of social media for school-aged children, particularly regarding the risks of exchanging messages about sex and love with unknown children and adults, and describes how these disadvantages can negatively impact their emotional and physical well-being, as well as their social isolation.
... They examine how cultural norms, values, and social pressures contribute to the development and perpetuation of SH. For example, the portrayal and normalization of SH in online networking, social media or television can lead to a "social contagion" effect, increasing the likelihood of such behaviors among vulnerable individuals (Silva & Botti, 2018;Memon et al. 2018;Emma Hilton, 2017;Zdanow & Wright, 2012;Peek et al. 2010). These theories consider how experiences of marginalization, discrimination, and oppression based on race, caste, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status increase the risk of DSH as a coping mechanism. ...
The focus of this descriptive review is on compiling the various theoretical aspects, perspectives, frameworks, or conceptual foundations related to self-harming behaviors. Such a compiling can help understand the underlying psychological, social, and neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to the development and maintenance of these behaviors. By understanding the theoretical models, researchers and clinicians can develop more targeted and effective intervention strategies to address the root causes, rather than just the symptoms. They can also provide research directions, inform the development of evidence-based treatments, challenge misconceptions, and contribute to reducing stigma and improving support for individuals affected. Early diagnosis, treatment planning, and progress monitoring, leading to better outcomes. Additionally, they can tell the development of policies, programs, and public health initiatives, community based mental health programmes aimed at preventing self-harm and promoting mental health and well-being.
... Similarly, a cross-sectional study in India shows that up to 50% of adolescents exposed to social media are likely to engage in self-harm [38]. In a different context, a systematic literature review of 9 studies showed a clear association between social media use and self-harming behavior in adolescents [39]. Age is an important predictor of selfinjurious behaviors in adolescents. ...
Background
Self-harming ideations demand targeted research due to their persistent nature, especially among female adolescents within refugee populations who face unique challenges that can exacerbate self-harming tendencies. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with self-harming ideations chronicity among female teenagers living in refugee settlement in Northern Uganda.
Method
This cross-sectional study used a pretested questionnaire to assess self-harming ideations and other demographic characteristics. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with chronicity of self-harm ideations.
Results
Of 385 participants, the prevalence of self-harming ideations was 4.2% (n = 16) for acute, 8% (n = 31) for subacute, and 3.1% (n = 12) for chronic. The likelihood of having more chronic self-harming ideations increased with having ever been pregnant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.78, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.57–9.08). However, having a spouse as the family head reduced the likelihood of having more chronic self-harming ideations (aOR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.04–0.95).
Conclusions
The persistence of self-harming thoughts among female teenagers in Northern Ugandan refugee settlements varies. Pregnancy history is associated with a higher chance of prolonged self-harming thoughts while having a spouse as the family’s head is linked with a lower likelihood. Examining different demographic and familial elements when addressing the mental well-being of female teenage refugees is vital. It stresses the necessity for customized interventions and support networks targeting the reduction of self-harm behaviors among this vulnerable group.
... However, whether these two phenomena are causally linked remains uncertain (Sedgwick et al., 2019). Nonetheless, vulnerable adolescents exposed to suicidal or self-harm content on social media platforms or engaging in networks that promote such behaviours are at a heightened risk of suicidal behaviour Memon et al., 2018). This can be partly attributed to the environmental and social influences that young individuals' brains are exposed to (Sumner et al., 2019). ...
Objective
The Blue Whale Challenge (BWCh), widely reported as a media hoax in 2017, was allegedly an online game encouraging teenagers to commit suicide.
Method
Google Trends identified the peak interest in the BWCh in March 2017. Tweets containing ‘suicide’ were analyzed, with each tweet reviewed for personal suicidal content. Data on suicide attempts and deaths were sourced from the National Police Headquarters, while hospital admissions data (ICD-10 codes F00-F99 and T36-T65) was collected from the Hospital Morbidity Survey. Crisis helpline data for children and adolescents (116 111) was also gathered.
Results
Between January 24 and April 10, 2017, 17,063 tweets containing ‘suicide’ were posted, with 240 identified as personal suicidal content: 65.7% expressed suicidal thoughts, 11.7% plans, and 1.3% encouragement. In April 2017, suicide deaths were higher among 19–24-year-olds compared to April 2018, while suicide attempts were lower among 13–18-year-olds compared to April 2019. No significant increase in suicide attempts was found during the BWCh period for individuals aged 0-18. Hospital admissions for T36-T65 codes peaked in 2017 for the 5–14 age group. Crisis helpline data showed decreasing phone calls and increasing chat messages from 2015 to 2020.
Discussion
There is no definitive link between BWCh popularity and a rise in suicidal behaviour nationwide. Despite widespread media coverage, there was no noticeable surge in suicide statistics. This study highlights the prevalence of harmful suicidal content on Twitter, emphasising the importance of mental health promotion, prevention, and support for social media users.
... • Social Network Relationships [55]: Users form close social connections with individuals known for their suicidal tendencies through activities like following, being followed, and frequent interaction. ...
Suicide has become a critical concern, necessitating the development of effective preventative strategies. Social media platforms offer a valuable resource for identifying signs of suicidal ideation. Despite progress in detecting suicidal ideation on social media, accurately identifying individuals who express suicidal thoughts less openly or infrequently poses a significant challenge. To tackle this, we have developed a dataset focused on Chinese suicide narratives from Weibo’s Tree Hole feature and introduced an ensemble model named Text Convolutional Neural Network based on Social Network relationships (TCNN-SN). This model enhances predictive performance by leveraging social network relationship features and applying correction factors within a weighted linear fusion framework. It is specifically designed to identify key individuals who can help uncover hidden suicidal users and clusters. Our model, assessed using the bespoke dataset and benchmarked against alternative classification approaches, demonstrates superior accuracy, F1-score and AUC metrics, achieving 88.57%, 88.75% and 94.25%, respectively, outperforming traditional TextCNN models by 12.18%, 10.84% and 10.85%. We assert that our methodology offers a significant advancement in the predictive identification of individuals at risk, thereby contributing to the prevention and reduction of suicide incidences.
... It can also increase self-harm and psychological distress [42]. Additionally, intensive social media use can lead to greater exposure to cyberbullying, "trolling" and other abusive online behaviours with a potentially dramatic impact on adolescents' lives, even leading to suicide [43,44], as confirmed by the network in which bullying in general (cyberbullying and bullying) was identified as a major risk factor for suicidal ideation. ...
Background and objectives:
Pandemic-related life changes may have had a deleterious impact on suicidal behaviours. Early detection of suicidal ideation and identification of subgroups at increased risk could help prevent suicide, one of the leading causes of death among adolescents worldwide. Here, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidal ideation in adolescents using a population-based sample from Switzerland, two years into the pandemic.
Methods:
Between December 2021 and June 2022, adolescents aged 14 to 17 years already enrolled in a population-based cohort study (State of Geneva, Switzerland) were asked about suicidal ideation over the previous year. In addition to a regression model, we conducted a network analysis of exposures which identified direct and indirect risk factors for suicidal ideation (i.e. those connected through intermediate risk factors) using mixed graphical models.
Results:
Among 492 adolescents, 14.4% (95% CI: 11.5-17.8) declared having experienced suicidal ideation over the previous year. Using network analysis, we found that high psychological distress, low self-esteem, identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual, suffering from bullying, extensive screen time and a severe COVID-19 pandemic impact were major risk factors for suicidal ideation, with parent-adolescent relationship having the highest centrality strength in the network.
Conclusion:
Our results show that a significant proportion of adolescents experience suicidal ideation, yet these rates are comparable with pre-pandemic results. Providing psychological support is fundamental, with a focus on improving parent-adolescent relationships.
... Using hierarchical multiple regression, the hypotheses describing the relationship between the variables (i.e., selfidentity, social intelligence and rationality) and the mediating role of rationality were examined. The mediation model is becoming more and more common, and it plays a noteworthy impact in evolving knowledge in the field of social psychology and theory development (Bullock et al., 2010;Pieters, 2017;Wood et al., 2007) and also scholars from business, psychology and education have expressed their interest and special attention to this mediation effect (Memon et al., 2018;Rasoolimanesh et al., 2021). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear correlation analyses executed using SPSS version 26 software and mediation analysis was performed using Smart PLS software. ...
After Africa, India has been a home for many indigenous communities who are still untouched by modern lifestyle. In particular indigenous adolescence is the one with the least exposure to the external world. There is a huge gap between how indigenous adolescence perceives them and how they understand interpersonal relationship with the non-indigenous group. Even though Government takes many initiatives they still hesitate to come out their comfort-zone and lagging in interpersonal relationship with non-indigenous people. Results found that rationality indirectly mediates the relationship between self-identity and social intelligence. Adolescence’s who are taught to think rationally are better able to assess events using facts and evidence, which allows them to respond appropriately with a deeper comprehension of the circumstances through reasoning. So, rational thinking helps to reduce perceptual bias, conflict resolution between their group likewise improves scientific thinking and effective communication of indigenous students. Indigenous researchers should develop intervention programs to improve their rational thinking, which helps to enhance their social intelligence and most importantly they believe their own ability to make wise decisions.
... Moreover, increased exposure to negative messages promoting self-harm, along with the emulation of self-injurious behaviors observed online and the adoption of self-harming practices from shared videos, further amplify these risks. Notably, prolonged and problematic engagement on these platforms is linked to higher levels of distress, unmet mental health support needs, diminished self-rated mental health, and an increased likelihood of experiencing suicidal risk (30), including attempted suicide (9). ...
The purpose of the current study is to analyze how variations in suicidal ideation scores can relate to sleep quality, social media consumption, self-esteem, and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help in a sample of university students in Honduras. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. Self-reported data was collected from a non-random sample of 910 university students in Honduras; their average age was 24.03 years (SD=6.05). Most respondents were women (67%) with men accounting for 33% of the sample. Measurements included item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, Barriers to Seeking Psychological Help Scale for College Students, and a self-reported questionnaire on social media. In response to the query, “Over the past two weeks, how frequently have you experienced thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself?” 54% (n=495) of participants indicated “not at all” 18% (n=168) reported “several days” 14% (n=129) responded “more than half of the days” and 13% (n=118) stated “nearly every day”. The results from the ordinal logistic regression model indicate that sleep quality and self-esteem serve as protective factors associated with decreased suicide ideation. At the same time, a higher number of social media platforms used per week and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help increase suicide ideation. Altogether, these variables explained 19% of the variance in suicidal ideation scores. Suicidal ideation is highly prevalent among the sampled university students.
... In Nesi et al. (2021) study, the odds of having a history of NSSI were significantly increased for participants who reported sharing NSSI-related content (OR = 2.49) and talking online to people known offline about NSSI (OR = 2.63). In previous research, some authors have raised the possibility that SNS exposure might affect the NSSI behaviour of children and adolescents (Cataldo et al., 2021;Memon et al., 2018), andNesi et al. (2021) results could provide support for this hypothesis. However, despite the significant effects found in this study, it is not possible to determine the causality of this association, namely, due to the study's cross-sectional design. ...
... Anomie is best described as a presumed environmental (extrinsic) driver of suicide. Other extrinsic precipitants of suicide include persistent bullying and toxic comments generated via social media [27], sometimes including active suggestions to end one's life. On occasion, clusters of suicide occur following death a celebrity, especially when the method of suicide is revealed in the media. ...
Keywords This article reviews the physiology of programmed cell death (PCD); commonly known as cell suicide. The 3 main processes of PCD; apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis are described, including external and internal signalling precipitating cell death. These are then compared with behavioural phenotypes of planned suicide, associated with toxic relationships, 'anomie' (disconnection from the contemporary social network), 'learned helplessness' (the main model for depression), social media reporting of suicides and political indoctrination leading to suicide bombings. Ethical arguments for and against active medical assistance in completing suicide by people with progressive neuropsychiatric disorders (such as dementias) and those with long standing severe mental illness (such as anorexia and personality disorder) are discussed. Emerging therapeutic prospects of 'stalling' PCD and using inflamatory interleukin patterns to predict overwhelming PCD and dramatic suicides are highlighted.
The number of non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSI) has grown exponentially in the last two decades, especially in the young population. Likewise, the number of textual tweets and images in photography and video has increased, to share the experience of self-harm. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the posts on self-harm on Twitter is presented. The objective is to make visible the importance of this growing phenomenon among young people and to discuss its psychological and behavioral impact on the individual, as well as to analyze whether Twitter has adequate content controls in accordance with its conduct policies. 32,231 tweets were collected between 24 November 2022, and 29 January 2023, containing four keywords: “selfharm”, “shtwt”, “goretwt”, and “ouchietwt”. An average of 725 daily tweets were found. These tweets were posted by a total of 11,749 different users. Of those published, only 3,859 tweets (8.3%) were blocked by Twitter’s content moderation procedures, and they did so only after having produced a high number of impressions and reactions in the community. No coherence was found between the tweets blocked due to their sensitive or non-sensitive load, or between Twitter’s criteria for blocking tweets and those that are finally deleted. By number of posts, the violence of the messages, photographs, videos, and the interactions produced because of these, the importance of the procedures of moderation and supervision of content by Twitter are discussed, in terms of the danger and the psychological impact on the users.
В статье раскрываются особенности отношения к сети Интернет, а также взаимосвязи типов аутоагрессии, и выбора контента в сети среди подростков двух групп: обучающихся общеобразовательной организации и кадетов. Констатируется, что наряду с расширением возможностей общения и самореализации, использование сети Интернет увеличивает риски для развития личности подростков. Особенно данному риску подвержены подростки со склонностью к саморазрушающему поведению. Было использовано четыре методики, среди которых авторская анкета. Они позволили сравнить проявления аутоагрессии и отношения к сети Интернет, а также выявить характер потребляемой подростками информации. Было выявлено, что в отличие от кадетов, подростки из общеобразовательной организации имеют склонность к преодолению норм и правил, самоповреждающему и саморазрушающему поведению, к агрессии и насилию и делинквентному поведению. У них выше уровень ауто и гетероагрессии, по сравнению с кадетами. Типы аутоагрессии, характерные для подростков из общеобразовательной организации имеют связь с вредоносным контентом, с которым они сталкиваются в сети Интернет, среди которого информация о курении, алкоголе, брани, жестокости, экстремизме и антиобщественном поведении. Полученные данные позволяют дополнить систему профилактики саморазрушающего поведения.
The article reveals the peculiarities of the attitude to the Internet, as well as the relationship between the types of auto-aggression, and the choice of content on the network among adolescents of two groups: students of a general educational organization and cadets. It is stated that along with the expansion of opportunities for communication and self-realization, the use of the Internet increases the risks for the development of the personality of adolescents. Adolescents with a tendency to self-destructive behavior are especially at risk. Four methods were used, including the author's questionnaire. They made it possible to compare the manifestations of auto-aggression and attitudes towards the Internet, as well as to reveal the nature of information consumed by adolescents. It was found that, unlike cadets, adolescents from a general education organization have a tendency to overcome norms and rules, self-injurious and self-destructive behavior, aggression and violence, and delinquent behavior. They have a higher level of auto and hetero-aggression compared to cadets. The types of auto-aggression typical of adolescents from a general education organization are associated with harmful content that they encounter on the Internet, including information about smoking, alcohol, abuse, cruelty, extremism and antisocial behavior. The data obtained make it possible to supplement the system for the prevention of self-destructive behavior.
This comprehensive handbook delves into the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence, law, and government regulations in society and business. With a particular focus on consumer-centric issues, chapters analyze the benefits and challenges of the expanding influence of AI systems on consumers, while shedding light on the psychological impact and potential harm posed by AI. Readers will navigate the complexities of tort law and its application to harm caused by AI, explore the legal conundrums arising from consumers utilizing digital delegates as agents, and uncover the innovative ways AI can be harnessed to enforce consumer law. This work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the implications of AI on the legal landscape, the future of the consumer marketplace, and the role of consumer law.
Adolescence is an important period for brain development, and self-harm during this period is associated with long-term consequences, including persistent psychopathology and behavioral disorders in the future. The present study was conducted with the aim of the relationship between the harmful use of mobile phones and emotional-behavioral problems in self-harming teenagers: with the mediation of self-contro. The method of the present research was applied in terms of its purpose and structural equation model in terms of correlation method. All secondary school students of the second period of Ardabil city with a history of self-harm in the academic year of 2023-2024 formed the statistical population of the present study. 280 of these people were selected and participated in the present study through purposive sampling. Achenbach's (2001) list of children's behavioral problems, Tanji, Baumeister and Boone's (2004) self-control questionnaire and Kuhei's (2009) mobile phone addiction questionnaire were used to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation tests and multiple regression analysis and path analysis using SPSS23 and Lisrel 8/lisrel 8 software. The obtained results showed that the structural model of harmful use of mobile phones with emotional-behavioral problems in self-harming teenagers: with the mediation of self-control has a good fit. These results showed that the harmful use of mobile phones had a direct and indirect effect with the mediation of self-control on the emotional-behavioral problems of self-harming teenagers. The results of this study showed that the harmful use of mobile phones in a sample of self-harming teenagers can both directly and through the mediation of self-control to play a role in behavioral-emotional problems of adolescents.
The words we use to talk about suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use matter. They play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and can reinforce shame and stigma, impact help-seeking behaviours and impede long-term recovery. In some cases, the words we use may lead to increased suicidal behaviour in our communities. This paper outlines the development of new language guidelines with best-practice advice for communicating about mental health and wellbeing, mental health concerns, suicide, and alcohol and other drug use. The development of this new guidance and supporting resources included consultation with people with lived and living experience and from priority populations alongside sector experts and professional communicators in a series of focus groups and surveys in order to understand if there was consensus on what constitutes best practice. The project built on existing guidance about language use, such as the Mindframe program, to deliver updated and evidence-informed guidelines for use across sectors. Not only do the guidelines aim to reduce the harm caused by poor communication, but also aim to ‘do good’. Language that empowers and supports those impacted by mental health concerns or suicide moves us towards a more inclusive, understanding society.
Introduction: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have turned to peer-led online depression support groups (DSGs) to cope with depressive symptoms. However, relatively little research has articulated how use of DSGs may relate to specific behaviors associated with depression. This study assessed healthy behaviors (healthy support-seeking, healthy normalization, problem-solving) and unhealthy behaviors (unhealthy support-seeking, adverse normalization, co-rumination) associated with the use of peer-led DSGs. Method: Participants (N = 525) were recruited through the Qualtrics platform, and measures of depressive symptoms, self-reported social media use, DSG use, and healthy/unhealthy DSG behaviors were administered online. Path analysis estimated the relations of DSG use to each of the six behaviors. Results: Results showed that all six DSG behaviors were positively associated with DSG use (ps < .001). Standardized coefficients ranged from 0.18 to 0.49 for healthy outcomes and from 0.28 to 0.36 for the unhealthy outcomes. Greater use of DSGs was associated with higher levels of all healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Education level moderated the relation of DSG use to the three unhealthy behaviors, with higher education leading to stronger relations between DSG use and all three unhealthy behaviors. Discussion: These findings suggest that DSGs may be associated with both healthy and unhealthy effects on their users.
This narrative review explores the socio-cultural factors influencing self-harm behaviors by synthesizing insights from 75 publications across diverse themes, including media, culture, religion, nations, and ethnicity. By examining secondary data, this review highlights how cultural perceptions and societal norms shape individuals' experiences with self-harm. It reveals that in some cultures, self-harm may be interpreted as a form of expression or resistance, while in others, it is stigmatized and misunderstood. The role of media is critically analyzed, showcasing its dual capacity to both normalize self-harming behaviors and provide platforms for support and awareness. Additionally, the review investigates how religious beliefs and practices can influence self-harm, either by offering frameworks for understanding distress or exacerbating feelings of guilt and shame. Ethnic variations in the experience and reporting of self-harm are also discussed by emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive approaches in mental health care. This comprehensive review underscores the importance of considering socio-cultural contexts when addressing self-harm, advocating for tailored interventions that resonate with individuals' backgrounds. Ultimately, it aims to enhance understanding and inform more effective, compassionate responses to self-harm as a significant public health concern.
This systematic review aims to examine the influencing factors of the known negative impacts of social media, such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor psychological well-being on adolescents' mental health. It provides an overview of existing evidence and potential guidance for regulation of social media use. A comprehensive search strategy identified relevant studies from databases like PubMed, PsycNET, and EMbase. The search included keywords related to social media and mental health, without language or geographical restrictions. Studies published from 2004 were included. Screening process included assessment of eligibility based on titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text review of selected articles. Data extraction noted demographics, social media related variables, and influencing factors. Results discovered different mediating factors of the negative effects of social media on mental health and findings are discussed. The findings may have implications for individuals, mental health professionals, policymakers, and social media companies. Understanding the influencing factors associated with the negative effects of social media use on mental health can guide strategies to promote mental health and well-being in the digital age.
Instagram is the social network with the largest number of adolescent users in Italy; it is also the social network with the largest number of suicide‐related posts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Italy in the 15–19 age group. This study aims to describe Italian posts on Instagram related to suicide and to investigate whether there are differences in the number of likes, comments, and hashtags in relation to the characteristics of the posts. We searched for Italian‐language Instagram posts by typing ‘#suicidio’, an Italian translation of the English word ‘suicide’, and found 303 posts between January and May 2022. Most of the posts were written by ordinary people, while only a small percentage of posts were written by professionals; moreover, the content was predominantly biographical and pro‐suicide, and most posts had no reference to adolescence. Posts with a neutral approach received the most likes, while posts with a negative or positive approach to suicide or that contained references to psychiatric disorders had the most hashtags. These results provide insight regarding guidelines that can be implemented for suicide online prevention and encourage psychologists to enhance online prevention and support using the online community inherent to the Instagram social network.
We conducted a study with 173 adolescents (ages 13-21), who self-reported their offline and online risk experiences and uploaded their Instagram data to our study website to flag private conversations as unsafe. Risk profiles were first created based on the survey data and then compared with the risk-flagged social media data. Five risk profiles emerged: Low Risks (51% of the participants), Medium Risks (29%), Increased Sexting (8%), Increased Self-Harm (8%), and High Risk Perpetration (4%). Overall, the profiles correlated well with the social media data with the highest level of risk occurring in the three smallest profiles. Youth who experienced increased sexting and self-harm frequently reported engaging in unsafe sexual conversations. Meanwhile, high risk perpetration was characterized by increased violence, threats, and sales/promotion of illegal activities. A key insight from our study was that offline risk behavior sometimes manifested differently in online contexts (i.e., offline self-harm as risky online sexual interactions). Our findings highlight the need for targeted risk prevention strategies for youth online safety.
The current study used secondary data analysis to examine mediating and moderating effects of depression literacy on the relationship between depression stigma and attitude toward use of mental health care services in Korean American parents. Of 141 survey respondents, 36 (25.2%) were fathers and 105 (74.8%) were mothers. In mediation analysis, the indirect effects of personal stigma (B = -0.14, p < 0.05) and total stigma (B = -0.09, p < 0.05) were statistically significant. The moderating eff ect of depression literacy on the relationship between personal stigma and attitudes was also significant (B = -0.06, p < 0.05). The current study found that only the relationship between personal stigma and attitude toward mental health care service use was mediated by depression literacy. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].
Background:
Social networking about depression can be indicative of self-reported depression and/or can normalize risk behaviors such as self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Aim:
To gain a better understanding of the depression, self-harm, and suicidal content that is being shared on Tumblr.
Method:
From April 16 to May 10, 2014, 17 popular depression-related Tumblr accounts were monitored for new posts and engagement with other Tumblr users. A total of 3,360 posts were randomly selected from all historical posts from these accounts and coded based on themes ascertained by the research team.
Results:
The 17 Tumblr accounts posted a median number of 185 posts (range = 0-2,954). Content was engaged with (i.e., re-blogged or liked) a median number of 1,677,362 times (range = 0-122,186,504). Of the 3,360 randomly selected posts, 2,739 (82%) were related to depression, suicide, or self-harm. Common themes were self-loathing (412, 15%), loneliness/feeling unloved (405, 15%), self-harm (407, 15%), and suicide (372, 14%).
Conclusion:
This study takes an important first step at better understanding the displayed depression-related references on Tumblr. The findings signal a need for suicide prevention efforts to intervene on Tumblr and use this platform in a strategic way, given the depression and suicidal content that was readily observed on Tumblr.
Background:
Social media (SM) use is increasing among U.S. young adults, and its association with mental well-being remains unclear. This study assessed the association between SM use and depression in a nationally representative sample of young adults.
Methods:
We surveyed 1,787 adults ages 19 to 32 about SM use and depression. Participants were recruited via random digit dialing and address-based sampling. SM use was assessed by self-reported total time per day spent on SM, visits per week, and a global frequency score based on the Pew Internet Research Questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression Scale Short Form. Chi-squared tests and ordered logistic regressions were performed with sample weights.
Results:
The weighted sample was 50.3% female and 57.5% White. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of total time per day spent on SM, participants in the highest quartile had significantly increased odds of depression (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.14-2.42) after controlling for all covariates. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, individuals in the highest quartile of SM site visits per week and those with a higher global frequency score had significantly increased odds of depression (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.86-4.04; AOR = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.03-4.59, respectively). All associations between independent variables and depression had strong, linear, dose-response trends. Results were robust to all sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
SM use was significantly associated with increased depression. Given the proliferation of SM, identifying the mechanisms and direction of this association is critical for informing interventions that address SM use and depression.
Introduction. Broadcasting a suicide attempt on social media has become a public health concern in many countries, particularly in China. In these cases, social media users are likely to be the first to witness the suicide attempt, and their attitudes may determine their likelihood of joining rescue efforts. This paper examines Chinese social media (Weibo) users’ attitudes towards suicide attempts broadcast on Weibo.
Methods. A total of 4,969 Weibo posts were selected from a customised Weibo User Pool which consisted of 1.06 million active users. The selected posts were then independently coded by two researchers using a coding framework that assessed: (a) Themes, (b) General attitudes, (c) Stigmatising attitudes, (d) Perceived motivations, and (e) Desired responses.
Results and Discussion. More than one third of Weibo posts were coded as “stigmatising” (35%). Among these, 22%, 16%, and 15% of posts were coded as “deceitful,” “pathetic,” and “stupid,” respectively. Among the posts which reflected different types of perceived motivations, 57% of posts were coded as “seeking attention.” Among the posts which reflected desired responses, 37% were “not saving” and 28% were “encouraging suicide.” Furthermore, among the posts with negative desired responses (i.e., “not saving” and “encouraging suicide”), 57% and 17% of them were related to different types of stigmatising attitudes and perceived motivations, respectively. Specifically, 29% and 26% of posts reflecting both stigmatising attitudes and negative desired responses were coded as “deceitful” and “pathetic,” respectively, while 66% of posts reflecting both perceived motivations, and negative desired responses were coded as “seeking attention.” Very few posts “promoted literacy” (2%) or “provided resources” (8%). Gender differences existed in multiple categories.
Conclusions. This paper confirms the need for stigma reduction campaigns for Chinese social media users to improve their attitudes towards those who broadcast their suicide attempts on social media. Results of this study support the need for improved public health programs in China and may be insightful for other countries and other social media platforms.
Social networking sites (SNSs) have gained substantial popularity among youth in recent years. However, the relationship between the use of these Web-based platforms and mental health problems in children and adolescents is unclear. This study investigated the association between time spent on SNSs and unmet need for mental health support, poor self-rated mental health, and reports of psychological distress and suicidal ideation in a representative sample of middle and high school children in Ottawa, Canada. Data for this study were based on 753 students (55% female; Mage=14.1 years) in grades 7-12 derived from the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the associations between mental health variables and time spent using SNSs. Overall, 25.2% of students reported using SNSs for more than 2 hours every day, 54.3% reported using SNSs for 2 hours or less every day, and 20.5% reported infrequent or no use of SNSs. Students who reported unmet need for mental health support were more likely to report using SNSs for more than 2 hours every day than those with no identified unmet need for mental health support. Daily SNS use of more than 2 hours was also independently associated with poor self-rating of mental health and experiences of high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that students with poor mental health may be greater users of SNSs. These results indicate an opportunity to enhance the presence of health service providers on SNSs in order to provide support to youth.
Social media has had a profound effect on how children and adolescents interact. While there are many benefits to the use of social media, cyberbullying has emerged as a potential harm, raising questions regarding its influence on mental health.
To review existing publications that examine the health-related effects of cyberbullying via social media among children and adolescents.
We searched 11 electronic databases from January 1, 2000, through January 17, 2012 (updated June 24, 2014). Studies were screened by 2 independent reviewers and were included if they reported primary research, described or evaluated the use of a social media tool in the context of cyberbullying, and were conducted with children or adolescents. Data were extracted by 1 reviewer and verified by a second. All studies were assessed by 2 reviewers for methodological quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results were not pooled owing to heterogeneity in study objectives and outcomes; a narrative analysis is presented.
Thirty-six studies in 34 publications were included. Most were conducted in the United States (21 [58.3%]), sampled middle and high school populations (24 [66.7%]), and included adolescents who were 12 to 18 years of age (35 [97.2%]). The median reported prevalence of cyberbullying was 23.0% (interquartile range, 11.0%-42.6%). Five studies reported inconsistent and/or weak correlations between cyberbullying and anxiety. Ten studies found a statistically significant association between cyberbullying and report of depression. Five studies investigated self-harm or suicidality, with conflicting results. Results indicate that the most common reason for cyberbullying is relationship issues, with girls most often being the recipients. Responses to cyberbullying are most often passive, with a pervasive lack of awareness or confidence that anything can be done.
There is a consistent relationship across studies between cyberbullying and depression among children and adolescents; however, the evidence of the effect of cyberbullying on other mental health conditions is inconsistent. This review provides important information that characterizes cyberbullying within the context of social media, including attributes of the recipients and perpetrators, reasons for and the nature of bullying behaviors, and how recipients react to and manage bullying behaviors. This information is critical to the development of effective prevention and management strategies.
As the use and influence of social networking continues to grow, researchers have begun to explore its consequences for psychological well-being. Some research suggests that Facebook use can have negative consequences for well-being. Instagram, a photo-sharing social network created in 2010, has particular characteristics that may make users susceptible to negative consequences. This study tested a theoretically grounded moderated meditation model of the association between Instagram use and depressive symptoms through the mechanism of negative social comparison, and moderation by amount of strangers one follows. One hundred and seventeen 18-29 year olds completed online questionnaires containing demographics, frequency of Instagram use, amount of strangers followed on Instagram, the Center for Epidemiological Resources Scale for Depression, and the Social Comparison Rating Scale. Instagram use was marginally positively associated with depressive symptoms, and positive social comparison was significantly negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Amount of strangers followed moderated the associations of Instagram use with social comparison (significantly) and depressive symptoms (marginally), and further significantly moderated the indirect association of Instagram use with depressive symptoms through social comparison. Findings generally suggest that more frequent Instagram use has negative associations for people who follow more strangers, but positive associations for people who follow fewer strangers, with social comparison and depressive symptoms. Implications of negative associations of social networking for people who follow strangers and the need for more research on Instagram use given its increasing popularity are explored.
There is little evidence that infants learn from infant-oriented educational videos and television programming. This 4-week longitudinal experiment investigated 15-month-olds' (N = 92) ability to learn American Sign Language signs (e.g., patting head for hat) from at-home viewing of instructional video, either with or without parent support, compared to traditional parent instruction and a no-exposure control condition. Forced-choice, elicited production, and parent report measures indicate learning across all three exposure conditions, with a trend toward more robust learning in the parent support conditions, regardless of medium. There were no differences between experimental and control conditions in the acquisition of corresponding verbal labels. This constitutes the first experimental evidence of infants' ability to learn expressive communication from commercially available educational videos.
There is concern that the internet is playing an increasing role in self-harm and suicide. In this study we systematically review and analyse research literature to determine whether there is evidence that the internet influences the risk of self-harm or suicide in young people.
An electronic literature search was conducted using the PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. Articles of interest were those that included empirical data on the internet, self-harm or suicide, and young people. The articles were initially screened based on titles and abstracts, then by review of the full publications, after which those included in the review were subjected to data extraction, thematic analysis and quality rating.
Youth who self-harm or are suicidal often make use of the internet. It is most commonly used for constructive reasons such as seeking support and coping strategies, but may exert a negative influence, normalising self-harm and potentially discouraging disclosure or professional help-seeking. The internet has created channels of communication that can be misused to 'cyber-bully' peers; both cyber-bullying and general internet use have been found to correlate with increased risk of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and depression. Correlations have also been found between internet exposure and violent methods of self-harm.
Internet use may exert both positive and negative effects on young people at risk of self-harm or suicide. Careful high quality research is needed to better understand how internet media may exert negative influences and should also focus on how the internet might be utilised to intervene with vulnerable young people.
Abstract The use of social networking sites (SNSs) has proliferated throughout the last several years for all populations, but especially adolescents. Media reports have also identified several instances in which adolescents broadcast their suicidal behaviors via the Internet and/or SNSs. Despite the increase in the usage of SNSs, there has been little research conducted on how adolescents use SNSs to communicate these behaviors. The objective of this study was to explore the ways in which adolescents use MySpace to comment on their suicidal thoughts and intentions. Content analysis was used to identify suicidal statements from public profiles on MySpace. The original sample consisted of 1,038 comments, made by young people ages 13-24 years old. The final sample resulted in 64 comments, where Potential Suicidality was identified. Through content analysis, the following subthemes (within the Potential Suicidality theme) were found: Relationships, Mental Health, Substance Use/Abuse, Method of Suicide, and Statements without Context. Examples and discussion for each subtheme are identified. The comments referenced a significant amount of hopelessness, despair, and desperation. This study provides support that adolescents use public Web sites to display comments about their suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and possible intentions. Future research is warranted to explore the relationship between at-risk behaviors and suicidality as expressed on SNSs.
Although developmental theorists such as Sullivan (1953) and Havighurst (1972) have suggested that the formation of romantic relationships in adolescence is an important developmental task, researchers of the adolescent “problem behavior syndrome” have documented that early sexual intercourse is related to problems with conduct, academics, and chemical use. In this study multiple measures of competence and romantic relationship involvement were obtained from a normative community sample of children and adolescents. These were used in path analyses to document the concurrent and longitudinal predictions of romantic involvement and competence to examine the concurrent and longitudinal linkages of romantic interest and involvement to four other domains of adaptive behavior. Results suggest that although success in romantic relationships has roots in general peer competence, there may be both deviant and prosocial pathways of initial romantic involvement. Early romantic involvement in late childhood and early to middle adolescence may have negative consequences for academic, job, and conduct domains of competence. Later in adolescence, romantic relationship involvement loses its negative significance, perhaps as it becomes a normative developmental task. Results highlight the need for developmental research on the origins and meaning of romantic relationships, one of the most neglected aspects of peer relationships.
The present study reports the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS), a measure designed
to comprehensively assess the functions of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The ISAS assesses 13 functions of NSSI, as well
as the frequency of 12 NSSI behaviors. The ISAS was administered to 235 young adults from a college population who had performed
at least one NSSI behavior. Consistent with previous research, ISAS functions comprised two factors representing interpersonal
and intrapersonal functions. In addition, the ISAS factors exhibited excellent internal consistency and expected correlations
with both clinical constructs (e.g., borderline personality disorder, suicidality, depression, anxiety) and contextual variables
(e.g., tendency to self-injure alone). Findings support the reliability and validity of the ISAS. The ISAS may be useful in
research and treatment contexts as a comprehensive measure of NSSI functions.
Currently little research exists examining self-mutilation (SM) in community samples of adolescents, despite tentative findings suggesting that self-harming behaviors, including SM may be increasing. The present study provides a comprehensive review of previous literature on the frequency of SM as well as preliminary epidemiological data concerning the frequency of SM in a community sample of high schools students. The relationship between SM, anxiety, and depressive symptomatology was also assessed. Four hundred and forty students from two schools, an urban and a suburban high school, were given a screening measure designed to assess for SM. Students who indicated that they hurt themselves on purpose also participated in a follow-up interview. Based on interviews it was found that 13.9% of all students reported having engaged in SM behavior at some time. Girls reported significantly higher rates of SM than did boys (64 vs. 36%, respectively). Self-cutting was found to be the most common type of SM, followed by self-hitting, pinching, scratching, and biting. Finally, students who self-mutilate reported significantly more anxiety and depressive symptomatology than students who did not self-mutilate. Results are also presented concerning demographic information and patterns of SM behavior.
There is increasing evidence that the Internet and social media can influence suicide-related behavior. Important questions are whether this influence poses a significant risk to the public and how public health approaches might be used to address the issue. To address these questions, we provide an overview of ways that social media can influence suicidal behavior, both negatively and positively, and we evaluate the evidence of the risk. We also discuss the legal complexities of this important topic and propose future directions for research and prevention programs based on a public health perspective.
Empirical studies and some high-profile anecdotal cases have demonstrated a link between suicidal ideation and experiences with bullying victimization or offending. The current study examines the extent to which a nontraditional form of peer aggression--cyberbullying--is also related to suicidal ideation among adolescents. In 2007, a random sample of 1,963 middle-schoolers from one of the largest school districts in the United States completed a survey of Internet use and experiences. Youth who experienced traditional bullying or cyberbullying, as either an offender or a victim, had more suicidal thoughts and were more likely to attempt suicide than those who had not experienced such forms of peer aggression. Also, victimization was more strongly related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors than offending. The findings provide further evidence that adolescent peer aggression must be taken seriously both at school and at home, and suggest that a suicide prevention and intervention component is essential within comprehensive bullying response programs implemented in schools.
This article reviews the literature on body image and media use among adolescents. We begin by defining body image and how it is constructed, especially among young people. We then offer information on when one's body image perception is askew with one's perception of personal ideal, which can result in disordered eating, including obesity, anorexia, and bulimia. Next, we describe the research literature on media use and its relationship to adolescents' body image perceptions and discuss content analyses and correlational, experimental, and qualitative studies. Lastly, we recommend, beyond conducting further and improved research studies, interventions and policies that may have an impact on body image and media use.
Objective
The aims of this study were to (1) investigate levels and correlates of suicide stigma and suicide literacy in a sample of individuals attending a tertiary depression clinic in Australia (N = 287), with comparison to a community‐based Australian sample (N = 1,410), and (2) validate measures of suicide stigma and literacy in a clinical sample.
Method
Australian adults (N = 287) aged 18–78 years referred by their general practitioners for assessment at a psychiatric clinic for patients with difficult‐to‐treat mood disorders were recruited to complete a survey, including measures of suicide literacy, suicide stigma, mental health symptoms, and demographics.
Results
Compared to the Australian community sample, participants in the clinical sample reported lower suicide literacy, lower suicide stigma, greater glorification of suicide, and greater attribution of suicide to isolation. Suicide ideation was associated with greater glorification of suicide. Females had higher suicide literacy and lower suicide stigma than males. The psychometric properties of the suicide stigma measure appeared to be robust and consistent with previous evaluations.
Conclusion
Given the low levels of suicide literacy in this clinical sample, suicide prevention initiatives designed for community settings may also be important in clinical settings.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether suicidal ideation in a community population of adolescents represents normative adolescent angst or is predictive of psychopathology, suicidal and problem behaviors, and compromised functioning 15 years after onset. Method: Participants were 346 largely Caucasian individuals who were part of a single-age cohort from a working class community and whose development had been traced prospectively from ages 5 to 30. Those with suicidal ideation at age 15 were compared to those without suicidal ideation at age 15 on measures of psychopathology, suicidal ideation and behavior, problem behaviors, and adult functioning at age 30. Gender differences were assessed across all domains. Results: At age 30, there were marked differences between adolescents with suicidal ideation and adolescents without suicidal ideation of both genders in most domains examined. Subjects with suicidal ideation were twice as likely to have an axis I disorder, nearly 12 times more likely to have attempted suicide by age 30, and 15 times more likely to have expressed suicidal thoughts in the past 4 years. Subjects with suicidal ideation had more problem behaviors and poorer overall functioning as assessed by multiple informants. Their self-perceptions of coping ability, self-esteem, and interpersonal relations were also lower. Although subjects with suicidal ideation among both genders had higher levels of psychopathology, suicidal ideation and behavior, and problem behaviors at age 30, male subjects with suicidal ideation had lower salaries and socioeconomic status and were less likely to have achieved residential independence. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of considering suicidal ideation in adolescence as a marker of severe distress and a predictor of compromised functioning, indicating the need for early identification and continued intervention.
Background:
Social networking services (SNS) have rapidly become a central platform for adolescents' social interactions and media consumption patterns. The present study examined a representative sample of publicly accessible content related to deliberate self-injurious cutting across three SNS platforms: Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram.
Methods:
Data collection simulated searches for publicly available deliberate self-injury content on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. Over a six-month period at randomly generated time points, data were obtained by searching "#cutting" on each SNS platform and collecting the first 10 posts generated. Independent evaluators coded posts for presence of the following: (a) graphic content, (b) negative self-evaluations, (c) references to mental health terms, (d) discouragement of deliberate self-injury, and (e) recovery-oriented resources. Differences across platforms were examined.
Results:
Data collection yielded a sample of 1,155 public posts (770 of which were related to mental health). Roughly 60% of sampled posts depicted graphic content, almost half included negative self-evaluations, only 9.5% discouraged self-injury, and <1% included formal recovery resources. Instagram posts displayed the greatest proportion of graphic content and negative self-evaluations, whereas Twitter exhibited the smallest proportion of each.
Conclusions:
Findings characterize the graphic nature of online SNS deliberate self-injury content and the relative absence of SNS-posted resources for populations seeking out deliberate self-injurious cutting content. Mental health professionals must recognize the rapidly changing landscape of adolescent media consumption, influences, and social interaction as they may pertain to self-harm patterns.
This qualitative study examined descriptions of social media use among 23 adolescents (18 female, 5 male) who were diagnosed with depression to explore how social media use may influence and be influenced by psychological distress. Adolescents described both positive and negative use of social media. Positive use included searching for positive content (i.e. for entertainment, humor, content creation) or for social connection. Negative use included sharing risky behaviors, cyberbullying, and for making self-denigrating comparisons with others. Adolescents described three types of use in further detail including “oversharing” (sharing updates at a high frequency or too much personal information), “stressed posting” (sharing negative updates with a social network), and encountering “triggering posts.” In the context of treatment, these adolescents shifted their social media use patterns from what they perceived as negative to more positive use. Implications for clinicians counseling depressed adolescents on social media use are discussed.
Today's children and adolescents are immersed in both traditional and new forms of digital media. Research on traditional media, such as television, has identified health concerns and negative outcomes that correlate with the duration and content of viewing. Over the past decade, the use of digital media, including interactive and social media, has grown, and research evidence suggests that these newer media offer both benefits and risks to the health of children and teenagers. Evidence-based benefits identified from the use of digital and social media include early learning, exposure to new ideas and knowledge, increased opportunities for social contact and support, and new opportunities to access health promotion messages and information. Risks of such media include negative health effects on sleep, attention, and learning; a higher incidence of obesity and depression; exposure to inaccurate, inappropriate, or unsafe content and contacts; and compromised privacy and confidentiality. This technical report reviews the literature regarding these opportunities and risks, framed around clinical questions, for children from birth to adulthood. To promote health and wellness in children and adolescents, it is important to maintain adequate physical activity, healthy nutrition, good sleep hygiene, and a nurturing social environment. A healthy Family Media Use Plan (www.healthychildren. org/MediaUsePlan) that is individualized for a specific child, teenager, or family can identify an appropriate balance between screen time/online time and other activities, set boundaries for accessing content, guide displays of personal information, encourage age-appropriate critical thinking and digital literacy, and support open family communication and implementation of consistent rules about media use.
Purpose:
To investigate online search activity of suicide-related words in South Korean adolescents through data mining of social media Web sites as the suicide rate in South Korea is one of the highest in the world.
Methods:
Out of more than 2.35 billion posts for 2 years from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 on 163 social media Web sites in South Korea, 99,693 suicide-related documents were retrieved by Crawler and analyzed using text mining and opinion mining. These data were further combined with monthly employment rate, monthly rental prices index, monthly youth suicide rate, and monthly number of reported bully victims to fit multilevel models as well as structural equation models.
Results:
The link from grade pressure to suicide risk showed the largest standardized path coefficient (beta = .357, p < .001) in structural models and a significant random effect (p < .01) in multilevel models. Depression was a partial mediator between suicide risk and grade pressure, low body image, victims of bullying, and concerns about disease. The largest total effect was observed in the grade pressure to depression to suicide risk. The multilevel models indicate about 27% of the variance in the daily suicide-related word search activity is explained by month-to-month variations. A lower employment rate, a higher rental prices index, and more bullying were associated with an increased suicide-related word search activity.
Conclusions:
Academic pressure appears to be the biggest contributor to Korean adolescents' suicide risk. Real-time suicide-related word search activity monitoring and response system needs to be developed.
Objective:
This study examined the relationship between frequency of exposure to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and engagement in NSSI among adolescents.
Method:
Ninety inpatient adolescents with a history of NSSI, ages 12 to 17, completed a structured interview.
Results:
The majority of participants had learned about NSSI prior to initiating the behavior themselves. More frequent exposure to specific methods of NSSI was associated with greater frequency of using those same methods. Greater exposure to NSSI in the media and seeking out NSSI content were related to greater frequency of engagement in NSSI.
Conclusion:
Clinicians may help those who self-injure to become more knowledgeable and educated consumers of media to prevent NSSI behavior and contagion.
Online communities and material regarding non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and eating disorders (ED) are abundant and easily accessible on the Internet. Internet platforms (e.g., social networks, message boards, blogs, video-, and photo-sharing sites) offer individuals who engage in these behaviors opportunities to interact with others with similar experiences (i.e., who have self-injured or who have ED difficulties). Researchers have found that although online activities can be positive in a number of ways (e.g., providing support to otherwise isolated individuals), they may be detrimental in others (e.g., contributing to continued and unhealthy self-destructive behaviors). In this chapter, we review extant literature on the potential benefits and risks of online activities related to NSSI and EDs, discuss avenues for future research, and present implications and guidelines for clinicians. We end with a case vignette illustrating the clinical guidelines presented.
Background:
The age, sex, and ethnic distribution of adolescents who commit suicide is significantly different from that of the general population. The present study was designed to examine psychiatric risk factors and the relationship between them and demographic variables.Methods:
A case-control, psychologic autopsy study of 120 of 170 consecutive subjects (age, <20 years) who committed suicide and 147 community age-, sex-, and ethnic-matched control subjects who had lived in the Greater New York (NY) area.Results:
By using parent informants only, 59% of subjects who committed suicide and 23% of control subjects who met DSM-III criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, 49% and 26%, respectively, had had symptoms for more than 3 years, and 46% and 29%, respectively, had had previous contact with a mental health professional. Best-estimate rates, based on multiple informants for these parameters, for suicides only, were 91%, 52%, and 46%, respectively. Previous attempts and mood disorder were major risk factors for both sexes; substance and/or alcohol abuse was a risk factor for males only. Mood disorder was more common in females, substance and/or alcohol abuse occurred exclusively in males (62% of 18-to 19-year-old suicides). The prevalence of a psychiatric diagnosis and, in particular, substance and/or alcohol abuse increased with age.Conclusion:
A limited range of diagnoses—most commonly a mood disorder alone or in combination with conduct disorder and/or substance abuse—characterizes most suicides among teenagers.
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.
Purpose of review:
Within the past 20 years, there have been profound advances in personal technology. Although adolescents have embraced the Internet, video games and smart phones, with their extraordinary potential for education, entertainment and connecting with peers, respectively, there is a 'dark side' to these new age technologies. This article identifies many of the adverse physical, psychological, developmental and emotional consequences of our new age technologies.
Recent findings:
As Internet access has become easier, faster and more ubiquitous, there is increased evidence of its potential for direct and indirect harm to teens. Sexually explicit material is now indiscriminately available to youth, and studies have linked pornography with a number of negative health effects. Internet addiction is a problem even among teenagers who do not view pornography online. The rise of the Internet and social media sites now makes it easier for a student to bully a peer, and adolescents represent the majority of cyberbullying victims These technologies not only carry increased morbidity but also mortality, with increased suicides due to cyberbullying and motor vehicle deaths due to texting while driving.
Summary:
Paediatricians play a critical role in educating adolescents and their parents about the risks associated with new age technologies.
Abstract During the past decade, online social networking has caused profound changes in the way people communicate and interact. It is unclear, however, whether some of these changes may affect certain normal aspects of human behavior and cause psychiatric disorders. Several studies have indicated that the prolonged use of social networking sites (SNS), such as Facebook, may be related to signs and symptoms of depression. In addition, some authors have indicated that certain SNS activities might be associated with low self-esteem, especially in children and adolescents. Other studies have presented opposite results in terms of positive impact of social networking on self-esteem. The relationship between SNS use and mental problems to this day remains controversial, and research on this issue is faced with numerous challenges. This concise review focuses on the recent findings regarding the suggested connection between SNS and mental health issues such as depressive symptoms, changes in self-esteem, and Internet addiction.
Importance:
Peer victimization is related to an increased chance of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between peer victimization and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts using meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched for articles from 1910 to 2013. The search terms were bully*, teas*, victim*, mobbing, ragging, and harassment in combination with the term suic*. Of the 491 studies identified, 34 reported on the relationship between peer victimization and suicidal ideation, with a total of 284,375 participants. Nine studies reported on the relationship between peer victimization and suicide attempts, with a total of 70,102 participants. STUDY SELECTION Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported an effect size on the relationship between peer victimization and suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in children or adolescents.
Data extraction and synthesis:
Two observers independently coded the effect sizes from the articles. Data were pooled using a random effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES This study focused on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Peer victimization was hypothesized to be related to suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. RESULTS Peer victimization was found to be related to both suicidal ideation (odds ratio, 2.23 [95% CI, 2.10-2.37]) and suicide attempts (2.55 [1.95 -3.34]) among children and adolescents. Analyses indicated that these results were not attributable to publication bias. Results were not moderated by sex, age, or study quality. Cyberbullying was more strongly related to suicidal ideation compared with traditional bullying. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Peer victimization is a risk factor for child and adolescent suicidal ideation and attempts. Schools should use evidence-based practices to reduce bullying.
Objective:
The primary aim of the study was to examine the relationship between Internet exposure and body image concern in adolescent girls, with a particular focus on the social networking site of Facebook.
Method:
A sample of 1,087 girls in the first two years (Years 8 and 9) of high school (aged 13-15 years) completed questionnaire measures of Internet consumption and body image concerns.
Results:
The overwhelming majority of girls (95.9%) had access to the Internet in their home. Time spent on the Internet was significantly related to internalization of the thin ideal, body surveillance, and drive for thinness. Further, 75% of the girls had a Facebook profile, and spent an average of 1.5 hours there daily. Facebook users scored significantly more highly on all body image concern measures than non-users.
Discussion:
It was concluded that the Internet represents a potent socio-cultural medium of relevance to the body image of adolescent girls.
One of the biggest obstacles to scientific and clinical work on NSSI has been confusion about how to define and classify episodes of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). NSSI is the direct, deliberate destruction of one's own body tissue in the absence of suicidal intent. NSSI is direct in that the ultimate outcome of the self-injury occurs without intervening steps. NSSI is deliberate in that self-injury is intended by the individual, rather than accidental. Destruction of one's own body tissue is required in this definition, although it is acknowledged that the actual physical harm caused by NSSI can vary significantly. In this chapter, the authors provide definitions and terminology used throughout the rest of the book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Suicidology finds itself confused and stagnated for lack of a standard nomenclature. This paper proposes a nomenclature for suicide-related behavior in the hope of improving the clarity and precision of communications, advancing suicidological research and knowledge, and improving the efficacy of clinical interventions.
Objective:
To identify the independent and differential diagnostic and symptom correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and determine whether there are gender- and age-specific diagnostic profiles.
Method:
The relationships between suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and psychiatric disorders were examined among 1,285 randomly selected children and adolescents, aged 9 to 17 years, of whom 42 had attempted suicide and 67 had expressed suicidal ideation only. Youths and their parents were interviewed as part of the Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (MECA) Study, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3).
Results:
Logistic regression analyses indicated that mood, anxiety, and substance abuse/dependence disorders independently increased the risk of suicide attempts, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. There was no significant independent contribution of disruptive disorders to suicide attempts, although its association with suicidal ideation was significant. Substance abuse/dependence independently differentiated suicide attempters from ideators. Noncriterion symptoms that remained significant predictors of suicide risk, after adjusting for psychiatric disorder, included panic attacks and aggressiveness. Perfectionism did not significantly increase suicide risk after adjusting for psychiatric disorder. The association of specific disorders and noncriterion symptoms with suicidality varied as a function of gender and age.
Conclusion:
A monolithic diagnostic risk profile for suicidality, ignoring gender- and age-specific risks, is inadequate. The contribution of substance abuse/dependence in the escalation from suicidal thoughts to suicide attempts is underscored.
The psychometric and factor-analytic properties of the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-C) were investigated in a Hong Kong Chinese adolescent sample. Two factors were extracted from this sample and they are Friend and Family subscales. The reliability, concurrent validity, and construct validity of the MSPSS-C were also established. The MSPSS-C demonstrated excellent internal consistency including the two subscales. In terms of construct validity, the MSPSS-C correlated negatively with depression and anxiety assessed by the General Health Questionnaire. The concurrent validity of the MSPSS-C was demonstrated by the positive association between the MSPSS-C and the Lubben Social Network Scale.
Adolescent suicide is a preventable tragedy yet is still the third leading cause of death in young people of age 10-24. Contrary to the idea that childhood bullying is a normal part of growing up or a rite of passage, it is now correlated with adolescent suicidality. An integrative review of the contemporary, extant literature was conducted to examine the following question: Are adolescents who have been involved in childhood bullying or cyberbullying as victim, offender, or victim/offender at greater risk for suicidality than those who have not. It is important to empower school nurses with current and evidence-based information regarding childhood bullying and examine empirical science and tools to effectively address the current serious problem of adolescent suicide risk assessment and intervention.
Television viewing and picture book reading are prevalent activities during toddlerhood, and research has shown that toddlers can imitate from both books and videos after short delays. This is the first study to directly compare toddlers' long-term retention rates for target actions learned from a video or book. Toddlers (N=158) at 18- and 24-months of age saw an experimenter demonstrating how to make a novel three-step toy rattle via a prerecorded video or a picture book. The toddlers' imitation of the target actions was tested after a specific delay (e.g., 2, 4 weeks), and their performance was compared with that of age-matched controls who did not see a demonstration. The 18-month-olds retained the target actions for 2 weeks, exhibiting forgetting at 4 weeks, whereas the 24-month-olds retained the information for up to 4 weeks, exhibiting forgetting at 8 weeks. Retention rates for books and videos did not differ at either age. These findings demonstrate very impressive retention from a brief two-dimensional media demonstration, and they contribute to our overall understanding of long-term memory processes during infancy.
Young people are susceptible to suicidal behavior as a result of learning about the suicidal behavior of others. This study was designed to determine whether Internet sites, such as online news and social networking websites, expose young people to suicide stories that might increase suicide ideation.
We reinterviewed 719 young people ages 14 to 24 who had participated in a prior nationally representative survey. Respondents reported knowledge of persons they knew who had committed or attempted suicide as well as personal experiences of hopelessness and suicidal ideation on both occasions. On the second occasion one year later, they also reported use of various Internet platforms and how often they had been exposed to suicide stories on those sites, as well as from personal sources. Changes in ideation as a function of exposure to different sources of suicide stories were analyzed holding constant prior hopelessness and ideation.
While traditional sources of information about suicide were most often cited (79% were from friends and family or newspapers), online sources were also quite common (59%). Social networking sites were frequently cited as sources, but these reports were not linked to increases in ideation. However, online discussion forums were both cited as sources and associated with increases in ideation.
The Internet and especially social networking sites are important sources of suicide stories. However, discussion forums appear to be particularly associated with increases in suicidal ideation. Greater efforts should be undertaken to promote Internet sites directed to young people that enhance effective coping with hopelessness and suicidal ideation.
Nonsuicidal self-injury, the deliberate destruction of one's body tissue (eg, self-cutting, burning) without suicidal intent, has consistent rates ranging from 14% to 24% among youth and young adults. With more youth using video-sharing Web sites (eg, YouTube), this study examined the accessibility and scope of nonsuicidal self-injury videos online.
Using YouTube's search engine (and the following key words: "self-injury" and "self-harm"), the 50 most viewed character (ie, with a live individual) and noncharacter videos (100 total) were selected and examined across key quantitative and qualitative variables.
The top 100 videos analyzed were viewed over 2 million times, and most (80%) were accessible to a general audience. Viewers rated the videos positively (M = 4.61; SD: 0.61 out of 5.0) and selected videos as a favorite over 12 000 times. The videos' tones were largely factual or educational (53%) or melancholic (51%). Explicit imagery of self-injury was common. Specifically, 90% of noncharacter videos had nonsuicidal self-injury photographs, whereas 28% of character videos had in-action nonsuicidal self-injury. For both, cutting was the most common method. Many videos (58%) do not warn about this content.
The nature of nonsuicidal self-injury videos on YouTube may foster normalization of nonsuicidal self-injury and may reinforce the behavior through regular viewing of nonsuicidal self-injury-themed videos. Graphic videos showing nonsuicidal self-injury are frequently accessed and received positively by viewers. These videos largely provide nonsuicidal self-injury information and/or express a hopeless or melancholic message. Professionals working with youth and young adults who enact nonsuicidal self-injury need to be aware of the scope and nature of nonsuicidal self-injury on YouTube.