Gender differences in adolescent coping behaviors and suicidal ideation: findings from a sample of 73,238 adolescents

Abstract

Suicide among adolescents is an emerging global public health problem as well as a socioeconomic problem. Stress-coping strategies have been shown to be associated with suicidal ideation. We examined coping behaviors related to suicidal ideation and gender differences in adolescents using the data from the 2010 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (ages 12-19 years; N = 73,238). Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between suicidal ideation and specific coping behaviors while controlling for potentially confounding variables. In both male and female groups, the coping behavior "drinking alcoholic beverages" and "smoking cigarettes" were positively associated with suicidal ideation. "Watching TV," "playing online/mobile games," and "sleeping" were negatively associated with suicidal ideation in both groups. In males, "engaging in sports" was negatively related to suicidal ideation. In females, "venting by talking to others" and "eating" were negatively related to suicidal ideation. The results indicate that there are gender differences in the effects of coping behaviors on adolescent suicidal ideation, and that developing adaptive coping strategies may function to reduce suicidality. Future studies are needed to examine whether improving coping skills can reduce suicidal ideation in a gender-specific manner.

Gender Differences in Relations of Smoking Status, Depression, and Suicidality in Korea: Findings from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012

“…Substances used for coping, such as drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes, are positively associated with suicidal ideation and attempts in both male and female adolescents, as well as adults. 38 39 Therefore, developing adaptive coping strategies in female youths other than smoking is important in order to reduce initiation of smoking. In addition, proper evaluation and management of mental health problems among female current smokers may lead to smoking cessation.…”

A count of coping strategies: A longitudinal study investigating an alternative method to understanding coping and adjustment

“…Suicide ideation also is associated with how well individuals are able to cope with stress [ 23 – 26 ]. For example, findings from concurrent studies indicate that individuals with higher levels of suicide ideation engage in more frequent (calculated by a means-based approach) maladaptive coping strategies [ 23 , 25 ] and tend to have more trouble problem solving in the face of stress [ 27 ], compared to individuals with lower levels of suicide ideation.…”

Association between mental health status and bone mineral density: analysis of the 2008-2010 Korea national health and nutrition examination survey

“…Several investigators found that there were gender differences in the effects of various demographic and risk factors for suicidal ideation. [34][35][36] Indeed, in Model 3, which was adjusted for age, BMI, smoking, drinking, exercise, education, income, metabolic syndrome, DM and HTN, suicidal ideation was correlated with lower BMD in males. Suicidal ideation could be the cumulative product of various mental health problems, although stress and depressed mood were relatively singular and homogenous expressions of mental health problems.…”