Journal Article

Suicidal Behavior and Problematic Internet Use in College Students/Conducta Suicida y Uso Problematico de Internet en Estudiantes Universitarios

Sanchez-Guarnido, Antonio Jose, Lucena, Valentina, Pino, Maria Jose, Herruzo, Carlos, Raya, Antonio F, Herruzo, F. Javier

2023

Overview

Background: Suicidal behavior, especially in young populations such as university students, is currently one of the most concerning health problems worldwide, suicide being the second leading cause of death among students. Although literature is still scarce, one of the risk factors that correlates the most with suicidal behavior in young people appears to be problematic internet use (PIU). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PIU and suicidal behavior in a Spanish university population. Method: An ex post facto prospective design was used with a sample of 1,386 Spanish university students (68.7% women and 31.3% men). PIU was assessed by means of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and psychological problems by means of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Results: The results confirm the relationship between PIU and suicidal behavior, principally alongside those of social isolation and depression, this risk being 3.78 times higher among women with PIU and 5.58 times higher in men. Conclusions: PIU appears as a risk factor for suicidal behavior that must be taken into account together with social isolation, subjective distress and depression. Keywords: Suicidal Behavior Suicidal Ideation Problematic Internet Use Psychological Problems College Students Antecedentes: La conducta suicida, sobre todo en poblacion joven como la universitaria, es actualmente uno de los problemas de salud que mas preocupa a nivel mundial, siendo el suicidio la segunda causa de muerte en esta poblacion. Aunque la literatura aun es escasa, parece que el uso problematico de Internet (UPI) se muestra como uno de los factores de riesgo que mas correlaciona con la conducta suicida en jovenes. El objetivo de esta investigacion es estudiar la relacion entre el UPI y la conducta suicida en poblacion universitaria espanola. Metodo: Se utilizo un diseno prospectivo ex post facto con una muestra universitaria espanola de 1,386 (68.7% mujeres y 31.3% hombres), evaluando el UPI mediante el Internet Addiction Test (IAT) y los problemas psicologicos mediante el Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos confirman la relacion existente entre el UPI y la conducta suicida, en relacion tambien con el aislamiento social y la depresion principalmente, siendo este riesgo 3.78 veces mayor entre las mujeres con UPI y de 5.58 en hombres. Conclusiones: El UPI se presenta como un factor de riesgo para el suicido a tener en cuenta junto con el aislamiento social, la angustia subjetiva y la depresion. Palabras clave: Conducta suicida Ideacion suicida Uso problematico de Internet Problemas psicologicos Estudiantes universitarios

• Publisher: Colegio Oficial De Psicologos Del Principado De Asturias