Affiliation:
1. Department of Public Health, Graduate School Yonsei University Seoul Republic of Korea
2. Institute of Health Services Research Yonsei University Seoul Republic of Korea
3. Department of Preventive Medicine Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul Republic of Korea
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionThis cross‐sectional study aimed to determine the association between receiving external help after sexual harm and suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents. The help received was classified into professional and nonprofessional to test the strength of the association according to the type of help.MethodsUsing data from the 2017−2019 Korean children and youth rights study, we analyzed a total of 18,740 middle and high school students. The dependent variable was suicidal ideation; the primary and secondary independent variable was experience of sexual harm and receiving help after sexual harm, respectively. Data were analyzed using χ2 tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses.ResultsExperience of sexual harm was significantly associated with higher suicidal ideation, and receiving help after sexual harm was significantly associated with lower suicidal ideation compared with not receiving help, regardless of gender. Furthermore, lower suicidal ideation was more strongly associated with receiving professional help in female adolescents, and receiving nonprofessional help in male adolescents.ConclusionsReceiving help after sexual harm was negatively associated with suicidal ideation, and the strength of this association varied with gender and the type of help received. These results can aid the development of evidence‐based crisis intervention for victims of sexual harm.
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Social Psychology,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health