Association between sleep duration, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt and suicidal behavior among Chinese adolescents

Abstract: Abstract Background Non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide attempts (SA) are major concerns among college students. Sleep may be a modifiable factor, but its associations with NSSI, SI, and SA remain unclear. Methods A cross‐sectional survey of 10,498 college students using a self‐report questionnaire. Sleep health indicators include insomnia symptoms, duration, chronotype, snoring, and daytime sleepiness. Multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to examine associations between sleep patterns and self‐injurious behaviors. Results The prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA was 4.8%, 29.7%, and 3.7%, respectively. Participants with higher healthy sleep scores exhibited significantly reduced risks of NSSI, SI, and SA, with dose‐response relationships observed. Each one‐point increase in the sleep score was associated with a 43% lower risk of NSSI (odds ratios (OR) = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.52–0.62), a 37% lower risk of SI (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.61–0.66), and a 48% lower risk of SA (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.48–0.58). Conclusion Healthy sleep patterns were significantly associated with reduced risks of NSSI, SI, and SA among Chinese college students. These findings underscore the importance of promoting comprehensive sleep health as a public health strategy to mitigate self‐injurious behaviors in young populations.

TL;DR: A systematic review of studies on the prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, or suicidal ideation in medical students published before September 17, 2016 found that strategies for preventing and treating these disorders in this population of medical students are needed.