Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences

Abstract Background Insomnia may mediate the association between internet addiction (IA) and suicidal ideation (SI). However, such association has not been thoroughly investigated in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thus, our study aimed to explore whether insomnia significantly aff...

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Main Authors: Lewei Liu, Yinghan Tian, Haojie Fan, Jiawei Wang, Changhao Chen, Zhiwei Liu, Feng Geng, Daming Mo, Xiangfen Luo, Xiangwang Wen, Xin Zhao, Mingru Hao, Lei Xia, Huanzhong Liu
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06357-z
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author Lewei Liu
Yinghan Tian
Haojie Fan
Jiawei Wang
Changhao Chen
Zhiwei Liu
Feng Geng
Daming Mo
Xiangfen Luo
Xiangwang Wen
Xin Zhao
Mingru Hao
Lei Xia
Huanzhong Liu
author_facet Lewei Liu
Yinghan Tian
Haojie Fan
Jiawei Wang
Changhao Chen
Zhiwei Liu
Feng Geng
Daming Mo
Xiangfen Luo
Xiangwang Wen
Xin Zhao
Mingru Hao
Lei Xia
Huanzhong Liu
author_sort Lewei Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Insomnia may mediate the association between internet addiction (IA) and suicidal ideation (SI). However, such association has not been thoroughly investigated in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thus, our study aimed to explore whether insomnia significantly affects the association between IA and SI in adolescents with MDD, as well as any sex differences. Methods From January 2021 to September 2023, this cross-sectional study included 502 adolescents with MDD and 123 healthy controls (HCs). The Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI) and the Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Scale (PANSI) were used to assess subjects’ severity of depression, IA, insomnia and SI. And we employed the PROCESS macro program to examine the mediating role of insomnia between IA and SI. Results Compared to HCs, adolescents with MDD had significantly higher levels of SI and their prevalence of IA and insomnia were 50.0% and 35.7%. In patients, PANSI scores correlated negatively with age and age of onset, and positively with disease duration as well as the scores of the CGI-S, IAT, and ISI (all p < 0.01). Moreover, above-mentioned correlations were more significant in girls. Mediation analyses showed that insomnia mediated the effect of IA on SI, and the total, direct, and indirect effects were 0.197 (95% CI: 0.132—0.262), 0.157 (95% CI: 0.096—0.218) and 0.040 (95% CI: 0.014—0.068), respectively. In female patients, the total, direct, and indirect effects were 0.224 (95% CI: 0.151—0.296), 0.191 (95% CI: 0.124—0.257) and 0.033 (95% CI: 0.002—0.068), respectively. In male patients, insomnia acted as a fully mediated effect between IA and SI, with an effect value of 0.045 (95% CI: 0.008—0.093). Conclusion Depressed adolescents have higher suicide risk, and SI is significantly associated with IA and insomnia, especially in girls. Moreover, insomnia may mediate the association between IA and SI. However, given the small sample size of this study and the limitations of assessment tools used, the results need to be viewed with caution. Regardless, clinical interventions should be strengthened for IA and insomnia in adolescents with MDD to reduce suicide risk.
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spelling doaj-art-63931943511642c1966bc8b2cb6eeaa72025-08-20T01:57:19ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-12-0124111210.1186/s12888-024-06357-zAssociations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differencesLewei Liu0Yinghan Tian1Haojie Fan2Jiawei Wang3Changhao Chen4Zhiwei Liu5Feng Geng6Daming Mo7Xiangfen Luo8Xiangwang Wen9Xin Zhao10Mingru Hao11Lei Xia12Huanzhong Liu13Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Bozhou People’s HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Suzhou Second People’s HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Fuyang Third People’s HospitalDepartment of Psychology and Sleep Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Hefei Fourth People’s HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical CollegeDepartment of Psychiatry, Ma’anshan Fourth People’s HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract Background Insomnia may mediate the association between internet addiction (IA) and suicidal ideation (SI). However, such association has not been thoroughly investigated in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thus, our study aimed to explore whether insomnia significantly affects the association between IA and SI in adolescents with MDD, as well as any sex differences. Methods From January 2021 to September 2023, this cross-sectional study included 502 adolescents with MDD and 123 healthy controls (HCs). The Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI) and the Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Scale (PANSI) were used to assess subjects’ severity of depression, IA, insomnia and SI. And we employed the PROCESS macro program to examine the mediating role of insomnia between IA and SI. Results Compared to HCs, adolescents with MDD had significantly higher levels of SI and their prevalence of IA and insomnia were 50.0% and 35.7%. In patients, PANSI scores correlated negatively with age and age of onset, and positively with disease duration as well as the scores of the CGI-S, IAT, and ISI (all p < 0.01). Moreover, above-mentioned correlations were more significant in girls. Mediation analyses showed that insomnia mediated the effect of IA on SI, and the total, direct, and indirect effects were 0.197 (95% CI: 0.132—0.262), 0.157 (95% CI: 0.096—0.218) and 0.040 (95% CI: 0.014—0.068), respectively. In female patients, the total, direct, and indirect effects were 0.224 (95% CI: 0.151—0.296), 0.191 (95% CI: 0.124—0.257) and 0.033 (95% CI: 0.002—0.068), respectively. In male patients, insomnia acted as a fully mediated effect between IA and SI, with an effect value of 0.045 (95% CI: 0.008—0.093). Conclusion Depressed adolescents have higher suicide risk, and SI is significantly associated with IA and insomnia, especially in girls. Moreover, insomnia may mediate the association between IA and SI. However, given the small sample size of this study and the limitations of assessment tools used, the results need to be viewed with caution. Regardless, clinical interventions should be strengthened for IA and insomnia in adolescents with MDD to reduce suicide risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06357-zInternet addictionInsomniaSuicidal ideationAdolescentsMajor depressive disorder
spellingShingle Lewei Liu
Yinghan Tian
Haojie Fan
Jiawei Wang
Changhao Chen
Zhiwei Liu
Feng Geng
Daming Mo
Xiangfen Luo
Xiangwang Wen
Xin Zhao
Mingru Hao
Lei Xia
Huanzhong Liu
Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
BMC Psychiatry
Internet addiction
Insomnia
Suicidal ideation
Adolescents
Major depressive disorder
title Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
title_full Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
title_fullStr Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
title_full_unstemmed Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
title_short Associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents: the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
title_sort associations between internet addiction and suicidal ideation in depressed adolescents the mediating effect of insomnia as well as sex differences
topic Internet addiction
Insomnia
Suicidal ideation
Adolescents
Major depressive disorder
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06357-z
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