scholarly journals Social Support and Suicide Risk Among Chinese University Students: A Mental Health Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyun Chu ◽  
Yanjie Yang ◽  
Jiawei Zhou ◽  
Wenbo Wang ◽  
Xiaohui Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students ◽  
The Impact

Background: World Health Organization recognizes suicide as a public health priority. This study aimed to investigate the risk life events which led university students to consider suicide and explore the protective mechanism of social support (including subjective support, objective support, and support utilization) on suicide risk.Methods: Three thousand nine hundred and seventy-two university students were recruited in Harbin, China. Social Support Rating Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the 25-item scale of suicide acceptability were used to collect participants' information. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and mediation analysis were employed for statistical analysis.Results: “Drug addict,” “infected with HIV,” and “incurable illness” were the top three events that led university students to consider suicide. Social support played an important protective role against suicide risk. Subjective support and support utilization had total effects on suicide acceptability, including direct and indirect effects. Anxiety (indirect effect = −0.022, 95% CI = −0.037 ~ −0.009) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.197, 95% CI = −0.228 ~ −0.163) mediated the relationship between subjective support and suicide acceptability; meanwhile, the association between support utilization and suicide acceptability was mediated by anxiety (indirect effect = −0.054, 95% CI = −0.088 ~ −0.024) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.486, 95% CI = −0.558 ~ −0.422). However, the protective impact of objective support worked totally through decreasing anxiety (indirect effect = −0.018, 95% CI = −0.035 ~ −0.006) and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = −0.196, 95% CI = −0.246 ~ −0.143). Moreover, the mediation effects of depressive symptoms had stronger power than anxiety in the impact of social support on suicide risk.Conclusions: Among Chinese university students, suicide acceptability was elevated when there was a health scare. Social support effectively reduced suicide risk via decreasing anxiety and depressive symptoms. From the mental health perspective, families, peers, teachers, and communities should work together to establish a better social support system for university students, if necessary, help them to seek professional psychological services.

scholarly journals Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation in Chinese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang-Jiang Zhou ◽  
Lei-Lei Wang ◽  
Meng Qi ◽  
Xing-Jie Yang ◽  
Lan Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
University Students ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously threatened the global public health security and caused a series of mental health problem. Current research focuses mainly on mental health status and related factors in the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese university students. Data from 11133 participants was obtained through an online survey. The Patient Health Question-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms, the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) was used to assess social support. We also used 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) to assess anxiety symptoms. Totally, 37.0% of the subjects were experiencing depressive symptoms, 24.9% anxiety symptoms, 20.9% comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms, and 7.3% suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed an increased presence of mental health problems in female students, graduate students, and those with personal COVID-19 exposure. Awareness of COVID-19, living with family were protective factors that reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. In addition, male, personal COVID-19 exposure, depressive and anxiety symptoms were risk factors for suicidal ideation. Social support, COVID-19 preventive and control measures, prediction of COVID-19 trends, living with family and graduate students are protective factors for reducing suicidal ideation.

scholarly journals Childhood trauma and suicidal ideation among Chinese university students: the mediating effect of Internet addiction and school bullying victimisation

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Lu ◽  
ShengYan Jian ◽  
Min Dong ◽  
Jie Gao ◽  
TianTian Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
University Students ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
School Bullying ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students ◽  
Bullying Victimisation ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Aims The factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents have been extensively characterised, but the mechanisms underlying the complexities of the relationship between experiences of childhood trauma and suicidal ideation have been less studied. This study examined the direct effect of childhood trauma on suicidal ideation on the one hand and whether school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction mediate the association between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation on the other hand. Methods This school-based mental health survey was carried out in Qinghai Province in Northwest China in December 2019. We employed standardised questionnaires to collect sociodemographic and target mental health outcomes. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression and structural equation modelling were performed for the data analyses. Results This study included 5864 university students. The prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation and Internet addiction were 34.7% and 21.4%, respectively. Overall, 16.4% and 11.4% of participants reported experiences of childhood trauma and school bullying victimisation, respectively. There were direct effects of childhood trauma, school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction on suicidal ideation. The total effect of childhood trauma on suicidal ideation was 0.201 (p < 0.001). School bullying victimisation and Internet addiction mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidal ideation. Internet addiction played a mediating role between school bullying and suicidal ideation. Conclusions Childhood trauma had both direct and indirect effects on suicidal ideation; these effects were mediated by school bullying victimisation and Internet addiction in Chinese university students. Elucidating these relationships will therefore be useful in developing and implementing more targeted interventions and strategies to improve the mental well-being of Chinese university students.

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Dependence, Social Support and Impulsivity in Chinese University Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songli Mei ◽  
Jingxin Chai ◽  
Shi-Bin Wang ◽  
Chee Ng ◽  
Gabor Ungvari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Psychological Health of University Students and Their Attitudes Toward Mobile Mental Health Solutions: Two-Part Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidal Drissi ◽  
Ayat Alhmoudi ◽  
Hana Al Nuaimi ◽  
Mahra Alkhyeli ◽  
Shaikha Alsalami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
World Health ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Mobile Mental Health ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019, and it was officially declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak and the safety measures taken to control it caused many psychological issues in populations worldwide, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to assess the psychological effects of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak on university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to investigate the students’ awareness of mobile mental health care apps as well as their attitudes toward the use of these apps. METHODS A two-part self-administered web-based questionnaire was delivered to students at United Arab Emirates University. The first part of the questionnaire assessed the mental state of the participants using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while the second part contained questions investigating the participants’ awareness of and attitudes toward mental health care apps. Students were invited to fill out the web-based questionnaire via social media and mailing lists. RESULTS A total of 154 students participated in the survey, and the majority were female. The results of the GHQ-12 analysis showed that the students were experiencing psychological issues related to depression and anxiety as well as social dysfunction. The results also revealed a lack of awareness of mental health care apps and uncertainty regarding the use of such apps. Approximately one-third of the participants (44/154, 28.6%) suggested preferred functionalities and characteristics of mobile mental health care apps, such as affordable price, simple design, ease of use, web-based therapy, communication with others experiencing the same issues, and tracking of mental status. CONCLUSIONS Like many groups of people worldwide, university students in the UAE were psychologically affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Although apps can be useful tools for mental health care delivery, especially in circumstances such as those produced by the outbreak, the students in this study showed a lack of awareness of these apps and mixed attitudes toward them. Improving the digital health literacy of university students in the UAE by increasing their awareness of mental health care apps and the treatment methods and benefits of the apps, as well as involving students in the app creation process, may encourage students to use these tools for mental health care.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Air Pollution on Mental Health: Evidence from the Chinese University Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6734
Author(s):  
Daqing Zu ◽  
Keyu Zhai ◽  
Yue Qiu ◽  
Pei Pei ◽  
Xiaoxian Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
University Students ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
The Impact

A growing number of developing countries have experienced worsening air pollution, which has been shown to cause significant health problems. However, few studies have explored the impact of air pollution on the mental health of university students, particularly in the Chinese context. In order to address this gap, through a large-scale cross-sectional survey, this study aims to examine the effects of air pollution on final-year Chinese university undergraduates’ (due to graduate in 2020) mental health by employing multivariable logistic regression. Our findings show that, first, although normal air quality is not strongly associated with lower levels of negative mental health, there is a strong link between poor air quality and higher levels of negative mental health. More specifically, life satisfaction hedonic unhappiness and depression measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies’ Depression scale (CES-D) are statistically associated with air pollution. In addition, we also found that gender is a significant factor, as males had more than 1.6 times greater odds of increased mental health problems compared to their female counterparts. Place of birth also plays a significant role in participants’ mental health. Moreover, undergraduates with urban household registration experienced significant levels of hedonic unhappiness and depression on the CES-D scale. Finally, we found that there is an association between respondents’ economic situation and their mental health too. Overall, this study contributes to the research on air pollution management and mental health intervention, particularly in relation to student groups. The undergraduate curriculum should provide more guidance and suggestions on promoting mental health and establishing positive attitudes to life and academic study of the final year students, under the context of air pollution in China.

Understanding Parenting Influence on Chinese University Students’ Well-Being

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 465-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Cui
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
University Student ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Parental Warmth ◽  
Drinking Behaviour ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Parenting Behaviour

Because emotional and behavioural problems among young adults are an evolving public health concern, it is critical to identify parenting behaviour in family of origin that prevents or exacerbates such problems. Further, it is particularly important to focus on university students in China, a country with rapid growth in university student population and changing dynamics of parenting. In this study, I proposed and tested the impact of multiple dimensions of parenting behaviour (parental warmth, hostility and overprotection) during childhood and adolescent years on behavioural and emotional problems (anxiety, depression and drinking behaviour) among Chinese university students who were entering university and starting their independent living. Using a sample of 545 university students attending a large university in China, results from logistic and multiple linear regression analyses suggested that: (1) fathers’ hostility was associated with university students’ report of drinking and anxiety, and (2) mothers’ overprotection was associated with anxiety and depression. Lack of findings on the effects of parental warmth may suggest cultural variation in expression of parental warmth. Further, the findings revealed some gender differences in parenting behaviour. Other demographics were also included. Implications for cross-cultural comparisons and parenting and university student health interventions were discussed.

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