Abstract
BackgroundA reversed gender pattern has been observed in the suicide rate in China compared to elsewhere. Like suicidal behaviour, non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviour is a health-risk behaviour. We examined whether a reversed gender pattern existed in the prevalence of NSSI.MethodsOnline literature databases were searched for English and Chinese articles on NSSI behaviours among the Chinese. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model and a subgroup analysis were used to estimate the odds ratios of gender differences in NSSI prevalence among Chinese adolescents including college students, middle school students, and clinical samples, as well as rural, urban, and Hong Kong middle school students.ResultsThere was a male bias in NSSI prevalence among college students (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = [1.30, 1.87], p < 0.001), and a female bias among middle school students (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = [0.73, 0.94], p < 0.01), but there was no gender difference among clinical samples (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = [0.41, 1.89], p > 0.1). The NSSI prevalence among middle school students had a female bias in the rural (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = [0.47, 0.72], p < 0.001) and Hong Kong areas (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = [0.86, 0.96], p < 0.001), with the gender difference in NSSI prevalence in the Hong Kong areas being greater than in rural areas. No gender difference in NSSI prevalence was found in urban areas (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = [0.84, 1.22], p > 0.1) among middle school students.ConclusionsOur analysis indicated the existence of specific gender and age patterns in NSSI prevalence among Chinese adolescents. The sample type, age, and the areas that have different gender norms and culture could partly explain this pattern.
Highlights
A reversed gender pattern has been observed in the suicide rate in China compared to elsewhere
Is there a gender difference in non-suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) prevalence among adolescents in China? If so, is there a female bias in NSSI prevalence among Chinese adolescents, or is there a reversed gender pattern as with the suicide rate in China compared to other countries? Could such factors as age, sample type, gender norms, or culture explain the gender difference in NSSI prevalence in Chinese adolescents? Answering these questions might be of great significance for enriching studies of NSSI in China and might be very important for the design of gender-specific intervention strategies for NSSI among Chinese adolescents
The odds ratio of the gendered NSSI prevalence among college students was 1.56, 95% CI = [1.30, 1.87], p < 0.001, indicating a male bias in NSSI prevalence among college students
Summary
Study design and outcomes The data used in this study were from a literature search conducted from 15 February to 4 March 2016. The second exclusion criterion was of nonquantitative studies or studies that did not provide data by gender of NSSI behaviour among the Chinese general population According to this criterion, when the 79 articles were analysed further regarding the area of study, target groups, methods, variables, and data used, 42 were excluded. Previous research shows that sample types matter for the gendered NSSI prevalence; [18] the third exclusion criterion used was of studies that did not clearly provide the data by sample types According to this criterion, further analysis was conducted of the remaining 37 articles with respect to the specific target groups, which were found to be mainly the following: middle school students, college students, and clinical samples. Based on the very limited data extracted from all cited papers, we investigated whether the weighted odds ratio differed from 1 and whether there was significant heterogeneity in the effect size across studies in the rural, urban, and Hong Kong areas among middle school students
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
