Perceived entrapment predicts first-onset suicidal ideation: A longitudinal study among medical students in China

Suping Wang; Ting Wei; Rui Zhu; Sicong Li; Xinyi Liu; Yong Cai; Ruijie Gong

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1049975

Perceived entrapment predicts first-onset suicidal ideation: A longitudinal study among medical students in China

Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 19:10:1049975. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1049975. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Suping Wang^{1

2}, Ting Wei¹, Rui Zhu², Sicong Li², Xinyi Liu², Yong Cai^{3

4}, Ruijie Gong^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
² School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
³ Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Center for Community Health Care, Hospital Development Institute Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
⁵ Department Immunization Program, Xuhui Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among medical students is high. Evidence indicates that feelings of entrapment are a predictor of suicidal ideation. In this study, we aimed to (1) investigate the prevalence of first-onset suicidal ideation among Chinese medical students and (2) explore the predictive effects of perceived entrapment on first-onset suicidal ideation.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted between 2018 and 2019 among 211 newly enrolled medical students in Shanghai. Using an anonymous questionnaire, we collected information on sociodemographic (sex, major, parents' income, and academic performance) and psychological (entrapment, depression, loneliness, defeat, social support, and interpersonal needs) variables as well as suicidal ideation. Participants were divided into four subgroups based on their exposure to entrapment (control, new-onset, reduced, and persistent). The primary outcome, first-onset suicidal ideation, was defined as suicidal ideation absent at baseline but present at follow-up.

Results: In total, 54.98% of participants (116/211) were women, and 76.78% (162/211) majored in clinical medicine. In the follow-up survey, 6.16% of participants (16/211) reported first-onset suicidal ideation, 17.54% (37/211) reported new-onset entrapment, and 12.80% (27/211) reported persistent entrapment during follow-up. Compared with the control group who reported no perceived entrapment at baseline and follow-up, participants who reported new-onset entrapment had the highest risk of new-onset suicidal ideation [odds ratio (OR) = 14.700, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.906-74.364; adjusted OR = 8.798; 95% CI = 1.588-48.757; multivariate OR = 8.238, 95% CI = 1.394-48.693).

Conclusion: New-onset entrapment can significantly predict suicidal ideation. Therefore, greater attention is needed for new-onset entrapment, such as intervention for suicidal ideation.

Keywords: entrapment; longitudinal study; medical students; prediction; suicidal ideation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Risk Factors
Students, Medical* / psychology
Suicidal Ideation*

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China under (Grant No. 2020YFC2006400), the Yangtze River Delta Regional Leading Talents Research Project on Immunization under (Grant No. CSJP033), and the Fifth Round of Shanghai Public Health Three-Year Action Plan Key Disciplines Construction under (Grant No. GWV-10.1-XK18).