Research on Relationships between Sexual Identity, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Rural High School Students in Less Developed Areas of China

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the influence of sexual identity and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among rural high school students in less developed areas of China. Methods: Behavior risk factors data collected from 1810 students from a high school in Jiangxi province, China. Five measures of childhood abuse and household dysfunction were summarized, and ACE was divided into 0, 1, 2, 3–5 ACEs. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of sexual identity, adverse childhood experiences, and their interaction with non-suicidal self-injury. Results: Compared with heterosexual students, high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) have a higher tendency of non-suicidal self-injury (AOR = 3.250, 95% CI = 1.69–6.28, p < 0.01). There was also a graded relationship between cumulative ACEs exposure and non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (AOR = 1.627, 95% CI = 1.02–2.60, p < 0.05). Odds for NSSI are higher among students with both experienced ACEs and identified as LGB (AOR = 2.821, 95% CI = 1.51–5.29, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Non-suicidal self-injury is associated with ACEs exposure and with those who identify as LGB, and the NSSI odds are greater when students identify as LGB and have experienced ACEs. More interventions to reduce non-suicidal self-injury should focus on LGB and ACEs and more attention needs to be paid to those who identify as LGB and have been exposed to ACEs.

Research on the Relationships between Psychological Problems and School Bullying and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Rural Primary and Middle School Students in Developing Areas of China

“…It also expanded upon the research on this aspect of rural primary and middle school students in developing areas of China. Consistent with previous research, primary and middle school students who have suffered school bullying and have psychological problems have a higher risk of NSSI [22,27,28]. In addition, the bootstrap test of this study showed that the psychological problems of rural primary and middle school students in developing areas of China play a mediating role between school bullying and NSSI.…”

“…Due to the lack of effective parental supervision and limited educational resources, left-behind youth may not be able to properly resolve life's difficulties or to properly be able to learn to do so and may, as a result, suffer a series of serious health risk behaviors. Compared to children who were non-left-behind (rural, school-aged youth who indicated that neither of their parents worked elsewhere in China ) in Jiangxi Province, the "left-behind" youth were more likely to suffer from a higher rate of school bullying, psychological problems, and NSSI behaviors [21,22]. Previous studies have shown that school bullying and psychological problems may have an impact on NSSI [20], and school bullying also increases the occurrence of adolescent psychological problems [12].…”

The victim-bully cycle of sexual minority school adolescents in China: prevalence and the association of mood problems and coping strategies

“…Bullying is a highly stressful experience and victims can have numerous negative outcomes (Duong and Bradshaw, 2014). Peer bullying experienced by adolescents is correlated with severe mental health problems – including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, non-suicidal self-injury, depression and anxiety – and can have long-term detrimental life consequence (Klomek et al ., 2007; Drydakis, 2019; Li et al ., 2019; Chen et al ., 2020). Due to the marginalised sexual orientation, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are more likely to face noticeable challenges and adverse experiences, including the victim-bully cycle (Button et al ., 2012).…”

O processo de identificação sexual na adolescência: um estudo qualitativo no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…Determinadas identidades de gênero que não se adaptam a estas regras são consideradas defeitos do desenvolvimento ou impossíveis de existir dentro dessa lógica, o que provoca sofrimento que pode levar ao adoecimento. Estudo realizado na China com 1810 estudantes de ensino médio Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 10, e9019109364, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i10.9364 evidenciou associação estatisticamente significativa entre identidade lésbica, gay e bissexual e autolesões não suicidas (Li et al, 2019).…”

“…Indivíduos das minorias sexuais estão mais expostos a experiências adversas na infância e a autolesões do que os heterossexuais (Li et al, 2019).…”