@article{ref1,
title="Deliberate self-harm among Chinese medical students: a population-based study",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2016",
author="Wu, Dan and Rockett, Ian R. H. and Yang, Tingzhong and Feng, Xueying and Jiang, Shuhan and Yu, Lingwei",
volume="202",
number="",
pages="137-144",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of deliberate self-harm (DSH) among college students has received increased attention in recent decades. Adopting a psychosocial perspective, this study aims to describe self-reported DSH among Chinese medical college students, assess respective associations between uncertainty stress and social capital with DSH, and explore the mechanism linking these three phenomena. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional survey employing multi-stage, sampling was conducted. 4446 undergraduate students were recruited from 22 participating Chinese medical universities. Perceived stress from uncertainty and social capital were assessed among the students. The Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression models assessed correlates of DSH. Relationship among social capital, uncertainty stress, and DSH were examined by means of Structural Equation Modeling. <br><br>RESULTS: The prevalence of DSH in the past 12 months among Chinese students was 9.6%. The most common types of physical DSH reported were scratching, cutting, and pinching. Age (χ(2)=26.63, p<0.01), gender (χ(2)=30.24, p<0.01), major field (χ(2)=28.13, p<0.01), and annual household income (χ(2)=11.10, p<0.05) were statistically associated with DSH. Uncertainty stress is a unique correlate of DSH, and shows a stronger association than do three certainty stressors. Social capital is also a strong correlate of DSH, especially cognitive social capital. Moreover, social capital may be indirectly associated with DSH through impacting uncertainty stress. LIMITATIONS: This study was a cross-sectional and thus could not evaluate causal relationships. <br><br>CONCLUSION: We recommend that a DSH intervention study should target uncertainty stress management and social capital accumulation. This study provides scientific evidence and theoretical foundation for future DSH interventions, with a view to enhancing the mental health of medical college students.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.030",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.030"
}