Speakers - PAWC2025

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period of transition characterized by rapid physical and psychological changes, which often lead to stress and depressive symptoms. The increased vulnerability to stress during this stage is linked to suicidal ideation, a key concern in adolescent mental health. This study aimed to identify risk factors for suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents, focusing on those under significant stress and depressive symptoms. We utilize the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) data involving 619,331 nationally representative middle and high school students aged 12–18 years in South Korea. Stratified multi-cluster sampling was employed. Statistical analyses, including Rao-Scott chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression, were conducted to identify factors associated with suicidal thoughts among them. Variables examined included gender, academic performance, economic status, health perception, dietary habits, physical activity, and violence experience. The study revealed significant associations between suicidal ideation and factors such as gender, city size, school grade, perceived academic performance, perceived economic status, self-perceived health, body image perception, breakfast frequency, sweetened beverage consumption frequency, fast food consumption frequency, caffeine intake frequency, physically active days, walking days, participating physical education, effort to control weight, sleep satisfaction, alcohol consumption days, smoking days, time spent studying on weekdays, time spent studying at weekend and violence experience (p<0.001). Among those, females, low academic performance, negative perceptions of health, experiencing violence, and fast food consumption were found to have higher odds of suicidal thoughts. The study emphasizes the need for tailored intervention strategies in Korea that address these risk factors, considering cultural and societal influences. Despite the study's limitations, including its cross-sectional design and the lack of data on sexual minorities, it highlights critical areas for future research and intervention to reduce adolescent suicide risks and improve mental health outcomes.