@article{ref1,
title="Sensitive periods for the effect of bullying victimization on suicidal behaviors among university students in China: the roles of timing and chronicity",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2020",
author="Wang, Geng-Fu and Han, A-Zhu and Zhang, Guo-Bao and Xu, Nuo and Xie, Guo-Die and Chen, Li-Ru and Yuan, Meng-Yuan and Su, Pu-Yu",
volume="268",
number="",
pages="12-19",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To examine whether timing and chronicity of bullying victimization (BV) play a significant role in linking exposure to BV to suicidal behaviors in university students. <br><br>METHODS: A multistage stratification sampling method was used to select a sample of 4034 university students (18-23 years, mean age 20.38±1.35 years, 41.9% female). We used latent class analysis and developmental-stage-based characterizations of BV timing and chronicity to explore the sensitive periods for the effect of BV on suicidal behaviors. <br><br>RESULTS: The prevalence rates of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts among our study participants were 9.9%, 3.0% and 1.3%, respectively. BV during primary school (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.55-2.90) and secondary school (OR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.80-3.90) was associated with suicidal ideation among university students. We identified four classes of life-course BV experiences (low BV, 73.8%; moderate BV, 18.6%; secondary school BV, 4.4% and persistent BV, 3.2%). Persistent BV was associated with 2.50 times (95% CI: 1.56-3.98), 2.98 times (95% CI: 1.48-6.02), and 6.13 times (95% CI: 2.48-15.14) higher risk of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts, respectively. Both moderate BV (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.35-2.26) and secondary school BV (OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.29-3.12) were positively correlated with suicidal ideation. Furthermore, there was a dose-response relationship between the number of periods of BV and suicidal behaviors. LIMITATIONS: This study was a cross-sectional study based on self-reported measures, especially BV experiences in each school stage. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies sensitive periods for the effect of BV on suicidal behaviors among university students in China.<br><br>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2020.02.049",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.02.049"
}