TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Prevalence and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents in Malaysia
JO  - International journal of adolescent medicine and health
A1  - Chan, Ying Ying
A1  - Lim, Kuang Hock
A1  - Teh, Chien Huey
A1  - Kee, Chee Cheong
A1  - Ghazali, Sumarni Mohd
A1  - Lim, Kuang Kuay
A1  - Khoo, Yi Yi
A1  - Tee, Eng Ong
A1  - Ahmad, Noor Ani
A1  - Ibrahim, Normala
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation, defined as thoughts, ideas and the desire to commit suicide, is becoming a major public health problem among adolescents. Indeed, suicidal ideation is known as a key predictor of future suicide risk. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among adolescents in Malaysia. <br><br>METHODS: This study used data from the 2013 Malaysian adolescent health risk behavior (MyAHRB) study, a cross-sectional school survey conducted in Peninsular Malaysia among school-going adolescents aged 16-17 years (n=2789). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents. <br><br>RESULTS: The overall prevalence of suicidal ideation among the adolescents was 6.2%. The prevalence was significantly higher among females than males (7.6% vs. 4.7%; p=0.002). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that adolescents who were females [odds ratio (OR)=2.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-2.92] or of Indian ethnicity (OR=2.32; 95% CI: 1.35-3.98) were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Loneliness (OR=2.54; 95% CI: 1.57-4.11), anxiety or worry (OR=2.70; 95% CI: 1.70-4.31), no close friends (OR=2.71; 95% CI: 1.43-5.14), and lack of supportive peers (OR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.15-2.47) were identified as risk factors for adolescents' suicidal ideation. Adolescents who ever had sexual intercourse (OR=2.70; 95% CI: 1.48-4.92) and had been in a physical fight (OR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.62-3.70) were also reported to have higher risks of suicidal ideation. <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence on risk factors associated with suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents. Targeted mental health and health risk behavioral interventions for high-risk adolescents are recommended.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0334-0139
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-0053
ID  - ref1
ER  -