The Effects of Household Financial Difficulties Caused by COVID-19 on Suicidal Tendencies of Adolescents : Application of Propensity Score Matching Analysis

J Prev Med Public Health

et al. 2022

Objectives: Economic hardship has a serious impact on adolescents’ mental health. The financial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was more severe for low-income families, and this also impacted adolescents. This study aimed to examine the associations of economic deterioration (ED) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and low socioeconomic status (SES) with adolescents’ suicidal behaviors.Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 54 948 middle and high school students. Odds ratios (ORs) of suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to ED and SES were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. We calculated relative excess risks due to interaction to assess additive interactions.Results: The ORs for suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to combined severe ED and low SES were 3.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.13 to 4.23), 3.88 (95% CI, 3.09 to 4.88), and 4.27 (95% CI, 3.21 to 5.69), respectively.Conclusions: ED and low SES were significantly associated with suicidal behaviors in adolescents. Although no significant additive interaction was found, the ORs related to suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts were highest among adolescents from low-income families with severe ED. Special attention is needed for this group, considering the increased impact of economic inequality due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Household Economic Deterioration Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Socioeconomic Status on Suicidal Behaviors in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study Using 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey Data

Kang

Jeong

J Prev Med Public Health

et al. 2022

“…Consistent with our findings, a previous study also reported that adolescents with household financial difficulties had higher stress levels than those without household financial difficulties. [17] Therefore, future studies are needed to perform in-depth explorations of social and situational characteristics and mental health affecting stress in adolescents with household financial difficulties due to COVID-19.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of emotional state and suicidal intentions on suicide attempts among Korean adolescents with household financial difficulties following the outbreak of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

2023

Medicine

The recent prolonged coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic has brought an economic crisis to various households, leading to negative mental health such as depression, anxiety, traumatic distress, and suicide risk among adolescents. Adolescents with household financial difficulties due to the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic show high suicidal tendencies and attempts such as suicidal ideation and plans, their suicidal ideation and plans increase the risk of suicide attempts in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of emotional state and suicidal tendencies on suicide attempts among adolescents with household financial difficulties in early pandemic. This was a secondary data analysis study using statistical data from the 16th (2020) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Among 54,948 who participated in the survey, 16,839 (30.6%) adolescents who had household financial difficulties were included in final analysis. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, and logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyze data. The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology checklist was used for reporting this study. 16,839 adolescents (mean age 15.68 ± 1.76 years; 8709, 51.7% male) who experienced household financial difficulties in the prior year revealed 3 percent (508) had attempted suicide. Suicide attempts differed according to several characteristics and were significantly associated with sex, residence type, drinking experience, depressive mood, perceived happiness, suicidal ideation, and suicide planning. The findings indicate high-risk adolescents with household financial difficulties need a multi-dimensional safety network, suicide screening, and emotional interventions during the pandemic.

“…Research has shown that economic problems and inequality are related to poor mental health in adolescents [ 4 ]. Another study has shown a relationship between the economic impact of COVID-19 on households and increased suicide attempts in adolescents [ 5 ]. Children from families with low socioeconomic status are unlikely to receive psychosocial resources and support from their families, education, or peer environments [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association mental health of adolescents with economic impact during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 2020 Korean nationally representative survey

Lee

2023

BMC Public Health

Background COVID-19 has affected innumerable aspects of life, including education, economy, and religion. Economic problems and inequality are associated with poor mental health in adolescents. This study aimed to identify the relationship between economic damage to families due to COVID-19 and various mental health problems in Korean adolescents and to evaluate the risk factors of mental health. Methods In total, 54,948 Korean adolescent students from 398 middle and 395 high schools were surveyed between August and November 2020. Complex sample logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for depression and suicidal ideation, respectively. A generalized linear model analysis was used to examine the association between mental health (unhappiness, loneliness, and stress) and the economic impact of COVID-19. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, school grade, perceived academic achievement, perceived family economic status, and economic support. Results The ORs of depression (OR = 1.77, 95% CI:1.57–2.00), suicidal ideation (OR = 2.14, 95% CI:1.84–2.50), unhappiness (OR = 1.51 95% CI 1.42–1.60) and lonely (OR = 1.38 95% CI 1.27–1.49) for the low level of perceived family economic status was higher compared to middle level. Adolescents who experienced economic deterioration in their households as COVID-19 showed a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.35–1.49), suicide ideation (OR = 1.36, 95% CI:1.28–1.44), unhappiness (OR = 2.23 95% CI 2.19–2.27), lonely (OR = 1.20 95% CI 1.17–1.22), and stress (OR = 1.14 95% CI 1.12–1.16) than those who did not. Conclusions The findings revealed an association between the decline in household economic status due to COVID-19 and mental health problems, such as stress, loneliness, suicidal ideation, depression, and unhappiness.