Citation

Wang PW, Liu TL, Ko CH, Lin HC, Huang MF, Yeh YC, Yen CF. Compr. Psychiatry 2014; 55(2): 342-348.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.09.006

PMID

24262117

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation and attempt among adolescents are risk factors for eventual completed suicide. Cellular phone use (CPU) has markedly changed the everyday lives of adolescents. Issues about how cellular phone use relates to adolescent mental health, such as suicidal ideation and attempts, are important because of the high rate of cellular phone usage among children in that age group. This study explored the association between problematic CPU and suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents and investigated how family function and depression influence the association between problematic CPU and suicidal ideation and attempts.

METHODS: A total of 5051 (2872 girls and 2179 boys) adolescents who owned at least one cellular phone completed the research questionnaires. We collected data on participants' CPU and suicidal behavior (ideation and attempts) during the past month as well as information on family function and history of depression.

RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-two adolescents (10.54%) had problematic CPU. The rates of suicidal ideation were 23.50% and 11.76% in adolescents with problematic CPU and without problematic CPU, respectively. The rates of suicidal attempts in both groups were 13.70% and 5.45%, respectively. Family function, but not depression, had a moderating effect on the association between problematic CPU and suicidal ideation and attempt.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the association between problematic CPU and suicidal ideation as well as attempts and indicates that good family function may have a more significant role on reducing the risks of suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents with problematic CPU than in those without problematic CPU.

Language: en