The relationship between suicidality and self-harming behaviors with problematic smartphone use in adolescents admitted to a psychiatric hospital

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Medical student of general medicine, Student of Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 General physician, Student of Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 MSc. in clinical psychology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22038/JFMH.2025.90318.3272

Abstract

Introduction: Regarding the increasing rate of self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideations or attempts among adolescents, we assessed the relationship between suicidality, self-harming behaviors with problematic smartphone use in adolescents admitted to psychiatric hospital.
 
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who were hospitalized in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Ibn-e-Sina Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, during December 2022 to March 2023, who were selected through the convenient sampling method. Research instruments included a demographic checklist, Behavioral Features of Self-Harm Questionnaire, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, Self-Harm Inventory, and Cellphone Overuse Scale. We analyzed the data analysis using SPSS 16.0, descriptive indices, Chi-square test, t-test, and Pearson's correlation test.
 
Results: In this study, we assessed 158 adolescents (91 had a history of suicide and 67 had no history of suicide). The difference between the two groups in history of self-harm was significant (P< 0.001). The risk of suicide was more in the suicide group and this group had problematic use of mobile phone more than the group without suicidal attempt (P< 0.001). In the suicide group, the suicide risk was significantly associated with borderline personality disorder and problematic use of mobile phone (P< 0.001). Also, mobile phone use was significantly associated with borderline personality disorder in all adolescents (P< 0.001).
 
Conclusion: We revealed that the problematic use of mobile phone is associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt in adolescents

Keywords

References

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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 27, Issue 6
November and December 2025
Pages 361-367

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