Title : Start or end of a romance and subsequent depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-injury: A longitudinal study of Chinese adolescents
Abstract:
Background: Romantic experiences are common during adolescence and may play an important role in individual development. However, little is known about the impact of romantic involvement on depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among Chinese adolescents. The present study was to examine the longitudinal associations between start or end of a romance and subsequent depressive symptoms and NSSI in a large cohort of Chinese adolescents.
Methods: A school-based longitudinal survey was conducted among 7,072 adolescents in Shandong, China. Data on starting a romantic relationship (SRR), romantic breakups, depressive symptoms, NSSI, and demographics were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariable logistic models were used to assess the associations.
Results: At baseline, participants had a mean age of 14.97 ± 1.46 years, and 49.1% were female. In the baseline survey, 7.1% of the participants reported SRR only, 8.8% reported breakups only, and 17.4% reported SRR+ breakups in the past year. Adolescents who experienced SRR or breakups in the past year reported significantly higher rates of subsequent depressive symptoms and NSSI at 1-year follow?up compared with peers without these experiences (all ps < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates and baseline depressive symptoms and NSSI, SRR only was significantly associated with a 48% higher odds of subsequent depressive symptoms and a 47% higher odds of subsequent NSSI. Experiencing both SRR and breakups was significantly associated with a 41% increase in the odds of subsequent NSSI during 1-year follow?up.
Conclusions: Starting a romantic relationship and experiencing a romantic breakup predict elevated risks of depressive symptoms and NSSI risk over one year. The findings highlight the need to integrate early romance education and romantic stress coping strategies into adolescent mental health programs.
