South Korean high school students have higher levels of suicidal thoughts — Korea Herald
In South Korea, the level of suicidal thoughts among adolescents in high school was higher than in middle school, with the highest figure recorded in the second year of high school. This was reported by Korea Herald, citing a study by the National Youth Police Institute.
Indicators throughout schooling
Study participants in the second year of high school scored an average of 1.58 points out of 4 on the suicidal thoughts scale. The figure was 1.56 points for the first year of high school and 1.57 points for the final year.
Researchers tracked 2,590 adolescents over six years of middle and high school education, from 2018 to 2023. In the first year of middle school, the average score was also 1.56 points. In the second and third years, it gradually declined to 1.53 and 1.52 points, respectively.
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Factors studied by researchers
The authors of the study suggested that adolescents may be affected by the transition to high school, which is associated with an increased academic workload, as well as difficulties with self-identity and relationships with peers.
The study also showed that adolescents with lower self-esteem had significantly higher levels of suicidal thoughts throughout the observation period. Higher scores were also recorded among participants with aggressive behavior. Social withdrawal and parental rejection had a significant impact on suicidal thoughts at early stages of development. The authors emphasized that such thoughts are a dynamic process that changes over time.
