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. 2022 May 15;22(1):336.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-03968-2.

Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a 3-wave repeated survey

Shun-Wei Liang #  1   2 , Li-Li Liu #  1 , Xiao-Dan Peng  1 , Jian-Bin Chen  1   3 , An-di Huang  1 , Xia-Yong Wang  1 , Jing-Bo Zhao  4   5 , Fang Fan  6 , Xian-Chen Liu  7
Affiliations

Prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a 3-wave repeated survey

Shun-Wei Liang et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a major public health crisis, harms individuals' mental health. This 3-wave repeated survey aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of college students in China.

Methods: Using a repeated cross-sectional survey design, we conducted 3 online surveys of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic at 22 universities in Guandong, China. The 3 surveys were conducted during the outbreak period (T1: 3 February to 10 February 2020, N = 164,101), remission period (T2: 24 March to 3 April 2020, N = 148,384), and normalized prevention and control period (T3: 1 June to 15 June 2020, N = 159,187). Suicidal ideation was measured by the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A range of suicide-related factors was assessed, including sociodemographic characteristics, depression, anxiety, insomnia, pre-existing mental health problems, and COVID-19-related factors.

Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.5%, 11.0% and 12.6% at T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Male sex (aOR: 1.35-1.44, Ps < 0.001), poor self-perceived mental health (aOR: 2.25-2.81, Ps < 0.001), mental diseases (aOR: 1.52-2.09, P < 0.001), prior psychological counseling (aOR: 1.23-1.37, Ps < 0.01), negative perception of the risk of the COVID-19 epidemic (aOR: 1.14-1.36, Ps < 0.001), depressive symptoms (aOR: 2.51-303, Ps < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (aOR: 1.62-101.11, Ps < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation.

Conclusion: Suicidal ideation appeared to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic remission period among college students in China. Multiple factors, especially mental health problems, are associated with suicidal ideation. Psychosocial interventions should be implemented during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce suicide risk among college students.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; College students; Prevalence; Risk factors; Suicidal ideation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timeline of the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in China from December 8, 2019, to June 28, 2020
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar graph of the prevalence of suicidal ideation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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