Law Ben M F, Shek Daniel T L
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China.
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, P.R. China; Centre for Innovative Programmes for Adolescents and Families, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, P.R. China; School of Social Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai, P.R. China; Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau, P.R. China; Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky.
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2016 Feb;29(1 Suppl):S38-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2015.10.007. Epub 2015 Oct 13.
To examine the trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong and to investigate the related predictors, including gender, family nonintactness, economic disadvantage, positive youth development, and family functioning.
We used quantitative data from a large sample of adolescent participants. Participants initially joined this study when they were in grade 7 (wave 1), and they were followed from grade 8 (wave 2) to grade 12 (wave 6).
SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTIONS: The participants consisted of 2023 grade 12 students from 28 secondary schools in Hong Kong. A multistage cluster random sampling method was adopted.
Self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
The trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors in general declined from grade 7 to grade 12. Regarding the effect of gender, whereas adolescent girls showed a higher prevalence for self-harm and suicidal behaviors at baseline and other waves, adolescent boys showed a pronounced decline in self-harm rates. Adolescents from nonintact families were more likely to self-harm or engage in suicidal behaviors at wave 6. Economic disadvantage at wave 4 predicted higher suicidal behavior among adolescents but not self-harm at wave 6. Regarding positive youth development, several protective factors that include cognitive-behavioral competencies, prosocial attributes, general positive youth development qualities, and positive identity could help reduce self-harm and suicidal behaviors at different time points. Regarding the role of family functioning, more family conflicts predicted higher suicidality in adolescence (self-harm and suicidal behaviors), and family communication affected self-harming behaviors at wave 6.
The trajectories of self-harm and suicidal behaviors decline from early to late adolescence among Chinese adolescents. Positive youth development and constructive family functioning are critical to help reduce suicidal behaviors. Regarding increased risk, more attention should be paid to adolescent girls and adolescents from nonintact and economic disadvantaged families.
探讨中国香港青少年自我伤害和自杀行为的发展轨迹，并调查相关预测因素，包括性别、家庭不完整、经济劣势、积极的青少年发展以及家庭功能。
我们使用了来自大量青少年参与者样本的定量数据。参与者最初在七年级（第1波）时加入本研究，并从八年级（第2波）跟踪至十二年级（第6波）。
设置、参与者和干预措施：参与者包括来自香港28所中学的2023名十二年级学生。采用多阶段整群随机抽样方法。
自我伤害和自杀行为。
自我伤害和自杀行为的发展轨迹总体上从七年级到十二年级呈下降趋势。关于性别影响，虽然青少年女孩在基线和其他阶段自我伤害和自杀行为的患病率较高，但青少年男孩的自我伤害率有明显下降。来自不完整家庭的青少年在第6波时更有可能自我伤害或实施自杀行为。第4波时的经济劣势预示着青少年有更高的自杀行为，但在第6波时与自我伤害无关。关于积极的青少年发展，包括认知行为能力、亲社会属性、一般积极的青少年发展特质和积极身份认同在内的几个保护因素有助于在不同时间点减少自我伤害和自杀行为。关于家庭功能的作用，更多的家庭冲突预示着青少年有更高的自杀倾向（自我伤害和自杀行为），而家庭沟通在第6波时影响自我伤害行为。
中国青少年自我伤害和自杀行为的发展轨迹从青春期早期到晚期呈下降趋势。积极的青少年发展和建设性的家庭功能对于帮助减少自杀行为至关重要。对于风险增加的情况，应更多关注青少年女孩以及来自不完整和经济弱势家庭的青少年。
