scholarly journals Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviors in Hong Kong Adolescents: Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Lu Yu

The present paper examined the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of adolescent deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicidal behavior in a representative sample of 3,328 secondary school students in Hong Kong. With reference to the previous year, 32.7% of the students reported at least one form of DSH, 13.7% of the respondents had suicide thoughts, 4.9% devised specific suicidal plans, and 4.7% had actually attempted suicide. Adolescent girls had significantly higher rates of DSH and suicidal behavior than did adolescent boys. Having remarried parents was related to an increased likelihood of DSH and suicide. While high levels of family functioning, overall positive youth development, and academic and school performance predicted low rates of DSH and suicidal behavior, cognitive and behavioral competencies were unexpectedly found to be positively associated with DSH and suicidal behavior. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Yu ◽  
Daniel Tan Lei Shek

This study examined the predictive effects of 15 positive youth development (PYD) attributes and parenting behavior on adolescent social networking addiction (SNA) in a representative sample of Hong Kong students. In total, 1,896 Hong Kong Secondary 1 students from 20 randomly selected schools (age = 13.19 ± 0.52 years) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, and the Chinese Parenting Behavior Scale. Of the participants, 11.4% could be classified as being addicted to Social Networking Sites (SNSs). Regression analyses showed that students' emotional competence (β = −0.09; p < 0.01), behavioral competence (β = −0.12; p < 0.001), beliefs in the future (β = −0.10; p < 0.01), and spirituality (β = −0.08; p < 0.01) were negatively associated with SNA, while social competence (β = 0.07; p < 0.05) and positive identity (β = 0.13; p < 0.001) were positively related to SNA. Paternal and maternal responsiveness showed indirect effects on students' SNA through the full mediation of PYD attributes. Specific PYD attributes and positive parenting behavior may serve as important protective factors against the development of SNA among Hong Kong adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 441-441
Author(s):  
Yi Chai ◽  
Hao Luo ◽  
Kenneth K C Man ◽  
Wallis C Y Lau ◽  
Ian C K Wong

Abstract Background Depression is highly prevalent in older adults and requires treatment. However, debate persists on whether antidepressant use is associated with an elevated risk of suicidal behavior. This study aims to examine the short- and long-term risk of suicidal behavior by various classes of antidepressants in older persons with depression. Methods Persons aged 40 years and above and received a clinical diagnosis of depression between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2016 were identified from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System in Hong Kong. The risk of suicidal behavior in persons who were prescribed antidepressants was compared with persons who were not prescribed any antidepressant drugs. Antidepressants were classified as tricyclic and related antidepressant drugs (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and others. Incidence and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of subsequent self-harm and suicide within one-year and the whole study period were estimated by age groups. Results A total of 34,927 persons aged 40-64 years, and 19,300 persons aged 65+ years were included. In the younger age group, the highest short-term and long-term risks were found in others (aHR, 2.33; 1.02-5.34) and NaSSAs (2.88; 2.15-3.86), respectively. In the older age group, no significant association was observed between antidepressant use and suicidal behavior across all antidepressant classes. Conclusion The self-harm and suicide associated risks vary across antidepressant classes and age groups. Cautions are always needed for antidepressant prescriptions.


Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Florence K.Y. Wu

AbstractWith the launching of the education reform in Hong Kong, the secondary school structure was changed from 7 years to 6 years in the 2006–07 school year. This paper describes Secondary four students’ views about the new secondary school curriculum, including their confidence and related stress. The students were also asked to assess the importance of life skills and its perceived adequacy in the formal curriculum. Results showed that roughly four-tenths of the students did not feel confident about their study and around six-tenths felt stressed. Although most of the students agreed that life skills were important, around 37% of them thought that the coverage of such knowledge in the formal curriculum was not adequate. Consistent with our hypotheses, academic confidence, academic stress, support provided by the school, and positive youth development were significantly related, with positive youth development predicting academic confidence.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 2219-2229
Author(s):  
Patrick S. Y. Lau ◽  
C. M. Lam ◽  
Ben M. F. Law ◽  
Y. H. Poon

This paper aims to discuss the relationships between the selected positive youth development constructs and the enhancement of Hong Kong junior secondary school students' money management skills, values, and attitudes. Various issues of money management of adolescents are reviewed. These issues include the need for money management programs for adolescents, the content and coverage of an appropriate money management program, and its relationships with the selected positive youth development constructs. The curriculum units for secondary 3 students are taken as examples to illustrate the design of the program. It is believed that promoting cognitive competence, self-efficacy, and spirituality could be an effective way to enhance students' money management skills, values, and attitudes, thus preparing them better for facing the finance-related issues in life.


Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Cecilia M.S. Ma ◽  
Moon Y.M. Law ◽  
Zoe Zhao

AbstractThe present study attempted to investigate the perceptions of Chinese secondary school students with greater psychosocial needs of the Tier 2 Program in the community-based phase of P.A.T.H.S. Project in Hong Kong (n=4245). Using a subjective outcome evaluation tool (Form C), the results revealed that a great majority of the students held positive attitudes toward the program, implementers and the effectiveness of the program. Also, the three domains of the program (“program quality”, “implementer quality” and “program effectiveness”) were significantly associated with each other. In line with previous findings, both program content and program implementer quality were significant predictors of program effectiveness. The current findings further reinforce the thesis that the community-based Tier 2 programs of the P.A.T.H.S. Project are effective in promoting the holistic development of adolescents with greater psychosocial needs in Hong Kong.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Pik Fong Tsui

This study attempted to examine the relationship between poverty and adolescent developmental outcomes in the family and personal domains in 3,328 Chinese secondary school students in Hong Kong. Developmental outcomes included positive youth development constructs, problem behaviors, perceived family interaction, and parental parenting. Results showed that adolescents experiencing poverty did not differ from nonpoor adolescents in terms of risk behavior and in most indicators of positive youth development. On the other hand, adolescents with economic disadvantage displayed lower levels of positive identity, family interaction, and perceived paternal parenting than did those without economic disadvantage.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 192-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hing Keung Ma ◽  
Daniel T.L. Shek

Secondary school students (n = 33,867 from 213 secondary schools) responded to a subjective outcome evaluation form to assess their views of the program, workers (teachers and/or social workers), and perceived effectiveness of the program. Results showed that high proportions of the respondents had positive perceptions of the program and the instructors, and more than four-fifths of the respondents regarded the program as helpful to them. While schools admitting students with different academic abilities and hours did not differ in the subjective outcome evaluation ratings, subjective evaluation ratings for workers were highest, followed by ratings for the program and perceived effectiveness. The present study replicates the previously reported findings and provides additional support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 870-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhu

Objectives: This study evaluated the longitudinal effect of a positive youth development (PYD) program entitled “Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes” (Project P.A.T.H.S.) on perceived thriving among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Method: Individual growth curve modeling analyses were performed using eight waves of data collected over 5 years from 23 experimental schools ( N = 3,607) and 24 control schools ( N = 3,574). Results: Adolescent thriving declined faster among control school students relative to experimental school students. While the two groups did not differ at Wave 1 and Wave 2 on the mean thriving levels, experimental school students showed higher thriving levels at Wave 3 to Wave 7 than did the control group students. Such differences between the two groups were more salient among girls than among boys, suggesting a stronger intervention effect for girls. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that PYD programs can promote thriving in Chinese adolescents.


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