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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Suicide | Research

Resilience mediates the association between self-harm and suicidal ideation in Chinese left-behind children

Authors: Yuanyuan Xiao, Fang Liu, Hailiang Ran, Wenhang Deng, Yusan Che, Die Fang, Ahouanse Roland Donald

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

A significant association between self-harm (SH) and suicide ideation (SI) has been found in Chinese left-behind children (LBC). Existing literature suggests that resilience might be a mediator in this association. However, this hypothesis has not been effectively discussed. The major aim of our study is to analyze the possible mediation of resilience in SH-SI association in Chinese LBC.

Methods

A population-based clustering sampling survey of 2619 LBC was conducted in southwestern China Yunnan province. Self-developed structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models were applied to estimate the associations between SH and SI, resilience and SI, and SH and resilience. Path analysis was adopted to measure the mediation of resilience, as well as its 5 dimensions, in the association between SH and SI. A subgroup analysis was further done to explore the mediation of resilience in the associations between SH severity and SI, SH repetition and SI, among self-harmed LBC.

Results

Compared with LBC who reported no SH behaviors, the odds ratio (OR) for SI was 3.37 (95% CI: 2.63–4.31) among self-harmed LBC. Based on the path model, resilience significantly mediated a quarter of the total association between SH and SI. Among the 5 dimensions of resilience, emotion regulation, interpersonal assistance, and family support were the strongest mediators. Subgroup analysis revealed that, the mediation of resilience was only significant for SH severity and SI.

Conclusions

Resilience played as a prominent mediator in SH-SI association among Chinese LBC. Resilience-centered intervention measures could be considered to reduce suicidal risk of this disadvantageous group.
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Metadata
Title
Resilience mediates the association between self-harm and suicidal ideation in Chinese left-behind children
Authors
Yuanyuan Xiao
Fang Liu
Hailiang Ran
Wenhang Deng
Yusan Che
Die Fang
Ahouanse Roland Donald
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Suicide
Suicide
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12153-1

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