TEENAGE SUICIDAL ACTIVITY AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES: REGIONAL ANALYSIS EXPERIENCE
Relevance: Suicidal activity of adolescents is very high; in most developed countries of the world, suicide has become one of the two main causes of death in this age category. One of the possible areas of negative impact on mental health, increasing the risk of suicide, may be excessive use of information technology.
The purpose of the study is to assess the role of the information environment as a risk factor for suicidal activity of adolescents in the East Kazakhstan region.
Materials and methods: Continuous transverse analytical with population control study was conducted in 2015-2019. Based on questionnaires, interviews of specialists with adolescents who have committed serious suicidal attempts, in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey, their parents (guardians) and school personnel. A total of 477 suicide attempts were analyzed, including 321 - in males and 156 - in females, the average age is 16.3 ± 1.1 years. The control group consisted of 500 people with a similar age-sex distribution.
Comparison of the frequency indicators was carried out by applying the Pearson χ2 criterion, as well as the two-sided Fisher exact criterion in the presence of limitations of the Pearson criterion. Numerical series were compared using the Mann-Whitney test.
The results of the study: When analyzing the duration of the use of information technology by respondents, its significant excess in the main group was revealed. Significant differences in the total use of information systems in the direction of excess for suicides were identified in all age and gender subgroups and in general. They turned out to be the most significant in the age group of 14-16 years (RR = 1.55 according to adolescents and RR = 1.49 according to parents) and in males (RR = 1.23 according to adolescents and RR = 1.29 according to parents). In the group of minors who committed suicide attempts, the frequency of Internet addiction was significantly higher. These differences appeared in all age categories and both gender groups. This was most significant at the age of 16-18, when the relative number of adolescents with Internet addiction in the main group was 74.2% higher. There was an excess of the frequency of visits to sites and online communities with depressive / suicidal content in the group of teenagers who made suicidal attempts. The differences were most clearly observed in the age group of 16-18 years. The prevalence of predominant consumption of potentially suicidal content in the main group was not recorded.
Conclusion:
1. In children and adolescents under the age of 18 who have made serious suicidal attempts, the total duration of using information systems during the day is exceeded both according to the data of the respondents themselves and their parents (guardians) in comparison with population control.
2. There were no significant differences in the frequency of consumption of information content with a potentially suicidal and depressive orientation between the compared groups of suicides and population control.
Number of Views: 390
Category of articles:
Original articles
Bibliography link
Kaliyeva A.A., Moldagaliev T.M., Nurdybayev A.K., Negay N.A. Teenage suicidal activity and Internet technologies: regional analysis experience // Nauka i Zdravookhranenie [Science & Healthcare]. 2020, (Vol.22) 1, pp. 88-97. doi:10.34689/SH.2020.22.1.010Related publications:
VALIDATION OF THE KAZAKH VERSION OF THE DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS SCALE (DASS-21) IN MEDICAL FACULTY STAFF SAMPLE: THE PILOT STUDY
PREDICTIVE VALUE OF PSYCHOMETRIC TESTING IN CONTEXT OF CREATING ADAPTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATION
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS' AWARENESS ABOUT THE HARMS OF MICROPLASTICS ON THE HUMAN BODY
THE IMPACT OF COMPLAINTS ON QUALITY OF LIFE, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND HEALTH OF MEDICAL WORKERS
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PATIENTS "STUDYING THE OPINION OF PATIENTS' SATISFACTION WITH NURSE INDEPENDENT APPOINTMENT AT THE LEVEL OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE"