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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Low health literacy and psychological symptoms potentially increase the risks of non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese middle school students

Authors: Shi-chen Zhang, Fang-biao Tao, Xiao-yan Wu, Shu-man Tao, Jun Fang

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Low health literacy (HL) has been known to be involved in various risk behaviors and mental disorder among adolescent. The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and interactive association between HL and self-reported mental health with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in Chinese middle school students.

Methods

Twenty five thousand three hundred seventy-eight junior and high school students in China were enrolled in this study. The outcomes were self-reported HL, psychological symptoms and NSSI. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine relations between them.

Results

The prevalence of NSSI was 27.5 %. Low HL was significantly associated with NSSI (OR = 2.538, 95 % CI: 2.335–2.758). Psychological symptoms were significantly positively correlated with NSSI (OR = 3.872, 95 % CI: 3.637–4.123). Low HL and psychological symptoms were independently and interactively associated with increased risks of NSSI.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Chinese middle school students with low HL and psychological symptoms are intending to exhibit NSSI. The intervention programs of mental health and behavior problems should enhance HL levels and attenuate the severity of psychological symptoms.
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Metadata
Title
Low health literacy and psychological symptoms potentially increase the risks of non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese middle school students
Authors
Shi-chen Zhang
Fang-biao Tao
Xiao-yan Wu
Shu-man Tao
Jun Fang
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1035-y

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