Frontiers in public health

Internet addiction and suicidal behavior in vocational high school students in Hunan, China: A study of influencing factors

Updated

Abstract

Among 7,968 vocational high school students in Hunan Province, 37.7% reported suicidal ideation.

  • includes 15.7% reporting plans and 21.8% reporting attempts.
  • is indirectly linked to suicidal behavior through insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress.
  • Insomnia and emotional issues may play a role in the prevention of suicidal behavior related to Internet addiction.
  • Findings are based on self-reported data, which may not fully capture the mental health status.
  • The sample may not represent all vocational students in China due to its regional focus.

Simplified

Key numbers

37.7%
Suicidal Ideation Prevalence
Percentage of students reporting suicidal thoughts.
21.8%
Suicidal Attempts Prevalence
Percentage of students who reported attempting suicide.
15.7%
Suicidal Plans Prevalence
Percentage of students who made suicide plans.

Full Text

What this is

  • This research investigates the prevalence of () among vocational high school students in Hunan Province, China.
  • It examines how () relates to through insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress.
  • Using a structural equation model, the study identifies key mediators in the relationship between and .

Essence

  • The study finds a high prevalence of among vocational high school students in China, with indirectly linked to these behaviors through insomnia and emotional distress.

Key takeaways

  • 37.7% of students reported suicidal ideation, 15.7% made plans, and 21.8% attempted suicide. These rates are significantly higher than global averages for adolescents.
  • is associated with increased levels of insomnia and emotional problems, which mediate the relationship between and .
  • Impulsivity is a strong predictor of , suggesting that students with higher impulsivity are more likely to experience problematic internet use.

Caveats

  • The sample is limited to vocational students in Hunan Province, which may not represent all vocational students in China.
  • Self-report scales were used, which may not fully capture clinical diagnoses or the complexity of .
  • The cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine causal relationships between and .

Definitions

  • Internet addiction (IA): Compulsive use of the Internet characterized by excessive urges and behaviors related to online activities.
  • Suicidal behavior (SB): Includes suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts, reflecting varying levels of intent to harm oneself.

Simplified

Funding

Competing interests

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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