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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1484809
This article is part of the Research Topic Children's Health and Screen Time View all articles

Correlations between problematic internet use and suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Provisionally accepted
bin X. He bin X. He 1SI Chen SI Chen 1*Yao Q. Yu Yao Q. Yu 2*Ping Yang Ping Yang 1*Bo Yang Bo Yang 1*
  • 1 Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
  • 2 Chongqing medical school, Chongqing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) has been increasingly linked to suicidal behavior among adolescents, raising significant public health concerns, particularly in Chinese youth. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the correlation between PIU and suicidal behavior in Chinese adolescents to provide a clearer understanding of this association.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases up to July 1, 2024. Studies investigating the relationship between PIU and suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was employed to assess pooled effect sizes, with subgroup analyses conducted to explore potential moderators, such as geographic region, age, gender, assessment tools for PIU and suicidal ideation, and the presence of depression. Data analysis was performed using STATA software (version 16).Results: This meta-analysis, comprising 23 studies with 353,904 participants, identified significant associations between PIU and suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents. PIU was associated with increased risks of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.03), suicidal plans (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.20), and suicidal attempts (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.89). Subgroup analyses indicated higher risks in specific groups: adolescents from Central China (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.32), college students (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.66, 2.62). The risk of suicidal ideation was particularly elevated when depression was not controlled (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.53, 2.25). These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in vulnerable populations.This meta-analysis demonstrated significant associations between PIU and suicidal behaviors among Chinese adolescents. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, particularly for adolescents from Central and Western China, college students, and those with untreated depression. Focused strategies are required to mitigate the risks associated with PIU and to effectively address suicidal behaviors in these high-risk populations.

    Keywords: problematic internet use, Suicidal Behavior, adolescents, China, Meta-analysis

    Received: 22 Aug 2024; Accepted: 21 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 He, Chen, Yu, Yang and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    SI Chen, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
    Yao Q. Yu, Chongqing medical school, Chongqing, China
    Ping Yang, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
    Bo Yang, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.