Suicidal Ideation and Related Factors of Junior Students During the COVID-19 Epidemic

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has changed the way junior three students learn, causing a significant effect on their mental health and leading to suicidal ideation among some students. Therefore, there is a need to focus on the current situation of suicidal ideation among junior three students and to identify the relevant influencing factors to promote the positive development of junior three students. Methods: From June 13rd to June 24th, 2019, to use the Adolescent Suicide Ideation Scale to investigate 3601 junior three students from 17 middle schools in Hubei Province by Online questionnaire survey. Results: During the epidemic, the suicidal ideation has significant positive associations with gender (r=0.09, P<0.001), sedentary time (r=0.24, P<0.001), parent-child relationship (r=0.31, P<0.001), peer relationship (r=0.32, P<0.001), but has significant negative associations with exercise time (r=-0.13, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, sedentary time, parent-child relationship, and peer relationship can positively predict the level of suicidal ideation of junior three students during the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: The level of suicidal ideation of junior three students during the COVID-19 epidemic is related to gender, sedentary time, exercise time, parent-child relationship and peer relationship. The suicidal ideation of females is higher than males. The more sedentary time and the less exercise time, the higher suicidal ideation. The worse interpersonal relationship (parent-child relationship, peer relationship), the higher suicidal ideation.