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Depression, aggression, and suicidal ideation in first graders: a school-based cross-sectional study
Hye Ji Min1, Duk-In Jon, Myung Hun Jung
1Seoul National Hospital, Seoul 143-711, South Korea.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Suicidal ideation affects 3.8% of South Korean first graders. Children's depression and aggression, not maternal depression, significantly increase this risk in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Suicidal ideation is a critical concern in child mental health.
- Early identification of risk factors in young children is essential for intervention.
- Limited research exists on suicidal ideation prevalence and predictors in early elementary school students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of suicidal ideation among first-grade students in South Korea.
- To identify risk factors, including children's depression, children's aggression, and maternal depression, associated with suicidal ideation in this population.
Main Methods:
- A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 elementary schools in Gunpo City, South Korea.
- Participants included 707 first graders and their mothers.
- Children's depressive and aggressive symptoms were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2), and maternal depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Suicidal ideation was identified using specific items from BASC-2 and BDI.
Main Results:
- Suicidal ideation was present in 3.8% (n=27) of the first graders.
- Children with suicidal ideation exhibited significantly higher scores for depression and aggression on the BASC-2 compared to those without.
- Children's depression (OR, 1.19) and aggression (OR, 1.24) were significant predictors of suicidal ideation, while maternal depression was not.
Conclusions:
- First-grade children demonstrate a notable prevalence of suicidal ideation.
- Childhood depression and aggression are significantly associated with suicidal ideation in young children.
- These findings highlight the importance of addressing children's mental health, specifically depression and aggression, even in early elementary grades.
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