Children working together on a computer (photo pch.vector / freepik)
Children can be quite cruel to each other, but they can also be very hard on themselves. “Digital self-harm” is the act of posting, sending or sharing hurtful content about yourself anonymously online, according to researchers. Decades ago, a frustrated boy or girl may have expressed their frustrations with pen and paper, or physical self-harm such as cutting. Today, they are more likely to use an online forum or social media platform anonymously.
Alarmingly, suicide is the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 10 and 19. This disturbing trend, combined with the tendency of teenagers to spend so much time online, inspired this project.
This study, conducted by scientists from Florida Atlantic University, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Florida International University, is the first ever to demonstrate a clear link between digital self-harm and “suicide.” Overall, the researchers conclude that children who engage in digital self-harm are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts.
Researchers report that about 9% of teenagers in the India study have anonymously posted something bad about themselves online. Another five percent admitted to cyberbullying against themselves. Regarding specific suicidality, about eight percent reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, while 5.3 percent attempted suicide during that time period. Importantly, the analysis also found that those who engaged in digital self-harm were five to seven times more likely to consider suicide and nine to 15 times more likely to actually attempt it.
The team did not note significant differences in reference to gender or race. However, non-heterosexual students were significantly more likely than their heterosexual peers to seriously consider a suicide attempt (24.4% vs. 6.9%) and to attempt suicide (10% vs. 4.9%). When it came to specific ages, 12-year-olds were the most likely to have thought about a suicide attempt, but there were no age differences when it came to legitimate suicide attempts.
More in-
“We identified a strong link between digital self-harm and suicide,” says study author Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., a professor in FAU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, within the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, in a University Press release.
“As such, it is imperative for health professionals to screen for digital self-harm to address the underlying mental health issues among youth that may occur before or alongside suicide. Furthermore, parents and caregivers must convey to children that they are available for dialogue, support, and assistance with the root issues that may ultimately manifest as self-harm Digitally,” co-director of the Center for Cyberbullying Research and faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University continues.
“Educators and other stakeholders must better prioritize the emotional and psychological needs of youth with opportunities for open dialogue, building skills and providing interactive and easily accessible support resources online and offline to ensure those at risk know that other people care about them.”
A large national sample of US middle and high school students aged 12 to 17 took part in a survey for this study. The research team focused on two clear indicators of digital self-harm and looked for any association with suicidal thoughts and attempts during the previous year.
“It is clear that those teenagers who participate in digital self-harm are much more likely to think about or attempt suicide compared to their peers who do not engage in digital self-harm,” Prof. Hinduja concludes. “When considering the marked increase in sadness and hopelessness among US teenagers over the past 10 years, our findings serve as another indicator of worsening mental health among teens.”
Comments to the article(0):
Your response has been received and will be published subject to system policy.
Thanks.
for a new comment
Your response was not sent due to a communication problem, please try again.
Return to comment