DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.23989/v1
Background: We attempted to find if there were gender differences in Non-suicidal self injurious (NSSI) behaviors and Suicidal ideation among Chinese youth, then analyze the impact of internet use frequency on these variables among youth of different genders.
Methods: Based on the survey data from 6 high-schools and 4 universities in 4 cities in China, the gender difference in NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation and their related factors were analyzed in the study.
Results: There was no significant gender difference in NSSI behaviors among Chinese youth, yet females reported significantly higher intensity of suicidal ideation compared to males; internet use frequency could explain the prevalence of NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation by gender, to some categories.
Conclusions: The gender difference of NSSI engagement among Chinese youth was not statistically significant; while females had higher suicidal ideation than males; the overuse of social softwares was found to be a risk factor to both NSSI engagements and suicidal ideations for both genders; males would engage less NSSI behaviors when they spent more time on knowledge sharing softwares while might have more suicidal ideation when they spent too much time on gaming.
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