Background: In adolescence, physical symptoms may develop due to psychosocial problems, but such problems are not fully evaluated in school medical checkups. The aim of the study was to compare the characteristics of students with high and low scores on the Questionnaire for Triage and Assessment with 30 items (QTA30) in a school health checkup. Methods: The QTA30 (a self-completed questionnaire) was used in checkups for 3,414 students from the 5th grade of primary schools to the 3rd grade of junior high schools in south Wakayama Prefecture. The students were divided into groups with high (QTA30 ≥ 37) and low (QTA30 < 37) risk for psychosomatic disorder. Eleven items, including gender, grade, lifestyle habits, and life events, were compared between these groups, and in subgroups with and without recent absence from school. Results: The QTA30 response rate was 87.9%. The high-risk group had significantly more 3rd grade students (P < 0.001), females (P < 0.001), problems with teachers or friends (P < 0.001), and experience of bullying (P < 0.001), in addition to game playing for ≥2 h (P < 0.001), late bedtime (P < 0.001), and many absences (P < 0.001). Students in the high-risk group with no absences for 1 month regardless of age still had a late bedtime and problems with friends, and 76.4% of the high-risk students had not visited a medical institution. Conclusions: Use of the QTA30 facilitated detection of psychosomatic stress in school medical checkups, with latent risks of truancy detectable at an early phase. The QTA30 may thus be useful in early intervention for psychosomatic stress of adolescents.

Background Suicide is the leading cause of death among Japanese adolescents. However, knowledge gaps regarding contemporary demographics and factors associated with suicidality among Japanese adolescents are a major concern. This study examined the prevalence of suicidality among Japanese adolescents and investigated associated factors. Methods A population-based questionnaire survey investigating general health was administered to 22,419 adolescents aged 13–18 years. The 29-item questionnaire covered emotional status, family function, cyberbullying, suicidality, and stressors (e.g., relationships with parents/friends, school performance, and sexual identity). We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with suicidality in this population. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 21.6% in males and 28.5% in females, and that of attempted suicide was 3.5% in males and 6.6% and in females. Bullying and stress related to family relationships had the strongest associations with suicidality. Exposure to cyberbullying had the highest odds ratio for both junior high (3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–4.4) and high school students (3.6, 95% CI 2.5–5.3). Other factors significantly associated with suicidality were sex, emotional status, and stress about relationships with friends, sexual identity, school records, and academic course. Adolescents accessed a variety of resources to cope with stressors, with the Internet being the most common resource consulted. Conclusions Suicidality is commonly experienced among Japanese adolescents. Although there are many associated risk factors, cyberbullying is of particular concern. Recognition of factors associated with adolescent suicidality will inform further research and suicide prevention efforts for healthcare providers and families.

Background In adolescence, physical symptoms may develop due to psychosocial problems but such problems are not fully evaluated in school medical checkups. The aim of this study was to compare lifestyle factors with psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents using the subscales of the Questionnaire for Triage and Assessment with 30 items (QTA30) in school health checkups. Methods The QTA30 was used in checkups for 3,414 students from the fifth grade of primary school to the third grade of junior high school in south Wakayama prefecture. The QTA is a self‐completed questionnaire with five subscales of physical symptoms, depression symptoms, self‐efficacy, anxiety symptoms, and family function. Each subscale is divided into three groups of clinical, borderline, and healthy, based on the subscale score. Subscale scores were compared with lifestyle items of gender, grade, habits, life events, and school attendance. Results The clinical rate for all subscales was significantly higher for a higher grade (P < 0.001). Anxiety symptoms were correlated with physical symptoms (r = 0.560). Anxiety and physical symptoms were significantly higher for students who went to bed at a later time with no absences in the last month and who had problems with friends and teachers (both P < 0.001). Family function correlated with self‐efficacy (r = 0.418) but not with other subscales. Study time was most related to self‐efficacy (P < 0.001). Conclusions The QTA30 subscale scores facilitated detection of psychosomatic stress and latent risks of psychosomatic disease at an early stage. Thus, the use of the QTA30 in a school medical checkup may permit early intervention for psychosomatic stress in adolescents.

Background Suicide is the first leading cause of death among Japanese adolescents. There are knowledge gaps regarding contemporary demographics and factors associated with suicidality in Japanese adolescents. This study examined the prevalence of suicidality and its associated factors among Japanese adolescents. Methods A population-based questionnaire survey was administered to 22,419 adolescents aged 13–18 years to investigate general health problems in adolescents. The questionnaire included 29 items regarding emotional status, family function, cyberbullying, suicidality, and stressors (focused on relationships with parents or friends, school performance, and sexual identity). We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with suicidality in adolescents. We hypothesized that the prevalence of suicidality would be similar to that found internationally and bullying would be associated with suicide attempts. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide was 21.6/% and 3.5% in males and 28.5% and 6.6% in females, respectively. Bullying and family relationship stressors had the highest association with suicide attempts. Exposure to cyberbullying showed the highest odd ratios for both junior high and high school children (3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–4.4; 3.6, 95% Cl, 2.5–5.3, respectively). Adolescents accessed a variety of resources for stressors but chose the internet more frequently. Conclusions Our results indicate that suicidality is a common experience among Japanese adolescents. Although there are many associated risk factors, cyberbullying may be particularly concerning. Recognition of factors associated with adolescent suicidality will help inform future research and suicide prevention efforts for healthcare providers and families.

Background Suicide is the first leading cause of death among Japanese adolescents. There are knowledge gaps regarding contemporary demographics and factors associated with suicidality in Japanese adolescents. This study examined the prevalence of suicidality and its associated factors among Japanese adolescents. Methods A population-based questionnaire survey was administered to 22,419 adolescents aged 13–18 years to investigate general health problems in adolescents. The questionnaire included 29 items regarding emotional status, family function, cyberbullying, suicidality, and stressors (focused on relationships with parents or friends, school performance, and sexual identity). We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with suicidality in adolescents. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide was 21.6/% and 3.5% in males and 28.5% and 6.6% in females, respectively. Bullying and family relationship stressors had the highest association with suicidality. Exposure to cyberbullying showed the highest odd ratios for both junior high and high school students (3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–4.4; 3.6, 95% Cl, 2.5–5.3, respectively). Adolescents accessed a variety of resources for stressors but chose the internet more frequently. Conclusions Our results indicate that suicidality is a common experience among Japanese adolescents. Although there are many associated risk factors, cyberbullying may be particularly concerning. Recognition of factors associated with adolescent suicidality will help inform future research and suicide prevention efforts for healthcare providers and families.