Identification of influencing factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents: 11-year national data analysis for 788,411 participants.

Suicide is one of the most common causes of death in adolescents. This study identified trends in the prevalence of and factors influencing suicidal ideation and attempts among Korean adolescents. Data were drawn from the third through the thirteenth (2007-2017) annual Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys. Participants included stratified, multistage clustered samples selected from 400 middle schools and 400 high schools annually. Depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts were binary dependent variables (requiring answers of yes or no). A total of 818,684 adolescents were targeted and 788,411 adolescents completed the survey. The prevalence rates of both suicidal ideation and attempts gradually decreased from 23.7% and 5.8%, respectively, in 2007 to 12.1% and 2.6%, respectively, in 2017. Overall, 16.8% of participants had suicidal ideation and 3.9% had suicide attempts during the survey period. During logistic regression analysis, depression was most strongly associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio: 5.78 [95% confidence interval: 5.64-5.88]) and suicide attempts (adjusted odds ratio: 5.56, [95% confidence interval: 5.22-5.83]). Despite decreasing trends, the high rate of suicidal behaviors remains a critical public health problem. Depression most strongly predicts suicidal behaviors. Early interventions are essential to treat depression and reduce or prevent suicide.

Association of atopic dermatitis with suicide risk among 788,411 adolescents: A Korean cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is known to negatively influence the mental health of patients. However, only a few studies have explored the influencing factors for psychiatric problems among adolescents with AD. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of AD and suicidal behaviors among adolescents by analyzing data from the 3rd through the 13th annual Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys (completed from 2007 to 2017). METHODS: Survey data were obtained from a stratified, multistage, clustered sample. Students self-reported AD if they had received a diagnosis of AD by a physician. Influencing factors for suicidal behaviors were tested by logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 788,411 adolescents completed the survey. The proportion of participants with AD was 22.2%. Those reporting suicide ideation and suicide attempts were 19.0%, and 4.5%, respectively. Compared with adolescents without AD, those with AD were more likely to be female, to skip breakfast less frequently, to exercise less frequently, to drink less alcohol, and to not be current smokers and were statistically significantly more likely to have negative mental health states. In the multivariable model, perceived unhappiness and suicidal ideation were the strongest influencing factors for suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio, 4.90; 95% CI, 4.31-5.57) and for suicidal attempts (adjusted odds ratio, 48.01; 95% CI, 42.69-53.09), respectively. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with AD had a meaningful prevalence of suicidal behaviors. Although further research is needed to clarify this association, adolescents with AD with influencing factors for negative mental health state may need intervention from practitioners who use a multidisciplinary team approach to prevent suicide.

Influencing Factors for Influenza Vaccination among South Korean Adolescents with Asthma Based on a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza viral infection is a major public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality.Asthma is a risk factor for developing serious complications related to influenza infection. OBJECTIVE: We explored factors associated with influenza vaccination coverage among adolescents with asthma. METHODS: Data were obtained from 62,276 participants in the 13th Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) conducted in 2017. KYRBS data were obtained from a stratified, multistage, clustered sample. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to identify variables potentially related to influenza vaccination in adolescents with asthma. RESULTS: The proportion of asthma was 8.8%, and the influenza vaccination rate overall was 37.9%. It was 41.8% in the asthma group and 37.5% in the nonasthma group (p < 0.001). After regression, male sex (odds ratio (OR) = 1.45; 95% CI 1.35-1.55), a high socioeconomic status (OR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.05-1.19), residence at an orphanage (OR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.38-2.29), regular breakfast consumption (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.02-1.17), and subjective good health (OR = 2.39; 95% CI 1.69-3.39) were associated with increased influenza vaccination, whereas current smoking (OR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.67-0.96) and a depressive mood (OR = 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.95) were inversely associated in adolescents with asthma. CONCLUSION: It is important to improve influenza vaccination in adolescents with asthma, especially females, those with a low socioeconomic status, independent residents, breakfast skippers, current smokers, and those who consider themselves unhealthy and have depressive moods.