Min Pei Lin

Prevalence and Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Internet Addiction in a Nationally Representative Sample of College Students in Taiwan

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of Internet addiction in a nationally representative sample of college students and to identify any associated psychosocial risk factors. The present study was constructed using a cross-sectional design with 3,616 participants. Participants were surveyed during the middle of the spring and fall semesters and recruited from colleges around Taiwan using stratified and cluster random sampling methods. Associations between Internet addiction and psychosocial risk factors were examined using stepwise logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of Internet addiction was found to be 15.3 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 14.1 percent to 16.5 percent). More depressive symptoms, higher positive outcome expectancy of Internet use, higher Internet usage time, lower refusal self-efficacy of Internet use, higher impulsivity, lower satisfaction with academic performance, being male, and insecure attachment style were positively correlated with Internet addiction. The prevalence of Internet addiction among college students in Taiwan was high, and the variables mentioned were independently predictive in the logistic regression analysis. This study can be used as a reference for policy making regarding the design of Internet addiction prevention programs and can also aid in the development of strategies designed to help Internet-addicted college students.

The role of positive/negative outcome expectancy and refusal self-efficacy of internet use on internet addiction among college students in Taiwan

Based on Banduras social cognitive theory, this study was designed to examine positive and negative outcome expectancy and refusal self-efficacy of Internet use and their contribution to Internet addiction among college students by using hierarchical multiple regression analyses in a cross-sectional study design. Schools were first stratified into technical or nontechnical colleges and then into seven majors. A cluster random sampling by department was further applied to randomly choose participants from each major. A representative sample of 4,456 college students participated in this study. The Outcome Expectancy and Refusal Self-Efficacy of Internet Use Questionnaire and the Chen Internet Addiction Scale were used to assess the cognitive factors and the levels of Internet addiction. Results showed that both positive outcome expectancy and negative outcome expectancy were significantly and positively correlated with Internet addiction, and refusal self-efficacy of Internet use was significantly and negatively related to Internet addiction. Further analyses revealed that refusal self-efficacy of Internet use directly and negatively predicted Internet addiction. Moreover, we discovered that positive outcome expectancy positively predicted Internet addiction via refusal self-efficacy of Internet use; however, surprisingly, negative outcome expectancy had both a direct and indirect positive relationship in predicting Internet addiction via the refusal self-efficacy of Internet use. These results give empirical evidence to verify the theoretical effectiveness of the three cognitive factors to Internet addiction and should be incorporated when designing prevention programs and strategies for Internet addicted college students.

Predicting suicide attempts by time-varying frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese community adolescents.

OBJECTIVE This study predicted suicide attempts (SA) by time-varying frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) beyond the contributions of their shared risk factors and examined gender differences in this association. This study also tested for a moderating effect of NSSI in the relationship between suicide ideation (SI) and SA. METHOD A large number of Chinese adolescents participated in this study (the exact number of participants varied from 3,623 to 6,911 in different analyses). They completed questionnaires assessing NSSI, SA, SI, borderline personality disorder features, depressive symptoms, and self-criticism 3 times at 6-month intervals. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS In females, but not in males, NSSI was significantly associated with future SA after controlling for the effects of shared risk factors. With the same frequency of SI, the frequency of NSSI also enhanced the risk for future SA. CONCLUSIONS This study established a longitudinal association between NSSI and SA, which could not be fully accounted for by their shared risk factors, in Chinese female community adolescents. Moreover, female adolescents who frequently engage in NSSI may gain the capability for attempting suicide.

Functions of nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese community adolescents

This study examined functions of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a large sample of Chinese high school students over a six-month period. Among Chinese adolescents, we identified three factors of NSSI functions, namely, Affect Regulation, Social Influence, and Social Avoidance. Affect Regulation was the most frequently endorsed function of NSSI, followed by Social Influence and Social Avoidance. Adolescent male self-injurers were more likely to endorse the Social Influence function than their female counterparts. Moderate/Severe Self-injurers did not differ from Minor Self-injurers on the endorsement of various NSSI functions. All functions of NSSI exhibited small to moderate stability over the six-month assessment period. Findings suggest that Chinese adolescents engaged in NSSI for multiple reasons. These reasons also varied considerably over time within individuals. Assessment of NSSI should thus regularly assess functions of the behavior.

The Interactive Effects of Impulsivity and Negative Emotions on Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-injury: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

This study employed latent growth curve analysis to evaluate the interactive effects of two specific facets of impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency [NU] and premeditation [PRE]) and negative emotions (NE) on the developmental trajectory of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among 3,453 (57% females) Chinese community adolescents. Participants completed questionnaires assessing NSSI, NU, PRE, and NE (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) at three waves of time. The initial levels of NE and NU significantly predicted the initial level of NSSI. Changes in NE and NU significantly predicted change in NSSI. Moreover, the initial levels of NU and PRE significantly moderated the relationship between the initial levels of NE and NSSI, such that among individuals with higher NU or less PRE, the three NE were associated with a higher level of NSSI. Additionally, among individuals with a faster increase in NU, depression and anxiety were associated with a faster increase in NSSI. These findings suggest that adolescents with trait impulsivity, especially in the form of NU, are more vulnerable to the engagement in NSSI.

The qualities of attachment with significant others and self-compassion protect adolescents from non suicidal self-injury.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious public health problem. Identifying the factors that could help prevent or reduce NSSI is important. The current study examined the protective roles of the perceived qualities of current attachment to significant others (i.e., mothers, fathers, and peers) and self-compassion in adolescent NSSI. The potential mediating effect of self-compassion in the relationships between attachment relationships with mothers, fathers, and peers and adolescent NSSI was also explored. Self-reported data on mother, father, and peer attachment (each included 3 dimensions; i.e., trust, communication, and closeness); self-compassion; and NSSI were collected from 658 secondary school students (59.9% male; Mage = 13.58 years). Participants with NSSI experiences scored significantly higher on the perceived qualities of current attachment with parents and self-compassion than those reporting no NSSI experience. Attachment with peers did not distinguish the NSSI group from the Non-NSSI group. Further mediation analyses indicated that self-compassion mediated the relationships of closeness with mothers, fathers (partially), and peers to NSSI as well as the relationship of peer communication to NSSI. Limitations of this study and implications regarding the protective roles of attachment and self-compassion in the prevention and intervention for NSSI are discussed.

Perceived Parental Control, Self-Criticism, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents: Testing the Reciprocal Relationships by a Three-Wave Cross-Lag Model

This study examined the prospective and reciprocal relationships among perceived parental control, self-criticism, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). We also examined the mediating effect of self-criticism in the relationship between perceived parental control and NSSI. We aimed to find out whether perceived parental control and self-criticism acted as risk factors for NSSI, or consequences of NSSI, or both. A group of 3,600 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.63 years, 56.6% female) completed questionnaires, with measures assessing NSSI, self-criticism, and parental control. A cross-lag model was used to test the reciprocal relationships among variables at 3 time points with 6-month intervals. Perceived parental control and self-criticism did not reliably predict later NSSI, but NSSI predicted later perceived parental control and self-criticism. Findings of this study emphasize the adverse effects of NSSI, and shed light on the intervention efforts of this behavior.

Comparing animated and static modes in educational gameplay on user interest, performance and gameplay anxiety

To compare the perception of animated to static mode of gameplay and how it affects the emotional state and performance of playing, this study designed two games, Chinese idiom string up game (CISUG) and Chinese idiom fishing game (CIFG). Seven classes with a total of 238 students were invited to participate in CIFG, and six classes with a total of 211 students were recruited for CISUG. All participants were 5th and 6th grade elementary school students. Performance achievement, interest level and gameplay anxiety were statistically examined using paired sample t-tests. The results revealed that the static mode fostered better performance. In addition, interest was found to be better maintained in the static mode than in the animated mode, but there was no difference between the two types of game modes in respect of gameplay anxiety. However, for both modes, gameplay anxiety did decrease slightly upon subsequent playing, though it did not reach a level of statistical significance. The results suggest that in educational game design, the use of static rather than animated modes should be considered when the objective is to help students achieve better performance in a competitive setting. Static mode fostered better achievement than the animated mode.Gameplay interest can be better maintained in the static mode.Educational game design should consider the use of static rather than animated mode.

Prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury and its risk and protective factors among adolescents in Taiwan

The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in a large representative sample of secondary school students and identified the psychosocial risk and protective factors. Using a cross-sectional design, 2170 participants were recruited from senior high schools throughout Taiwan using both stratified and cluster sampling. The one-year prevalence of NSSI was found to be 20.1%. Results suggested that compared to non-injurers, episodic self-injurers reported higher levels of neuroticism and openness, while repetitive self-injurers reported higher levels of neuroticism, openness, avoidance/emotion-focused coping, and virtual social support, and lower levels of self-esteem and cognitive reconstruction/problem-focused coping. Compared to episodic self-injurers, repetitive self-injurers reported a higher level of avoidance/ emotion-focused coping. Additionally, compared to non-injurers, mild self-injurers reported higher levels of neuroticism and openness, while severe self-injurers reported higher levels of neuroticism, openness, avoidance/emotion-focused coping, and virtual social support, and lower levels of self-esteem and cognitive reconstruction/problem-focused coping. Our study found that NSSI is fairly prevalent among secondary school students in Taiwan. Psychosocial risk factors, especially maladaptive coping strategies, should be given special attention when examining adolescents with NSSI. Regarding protective factors, enhancing self-esteem should be the focus of formulating effective intervention strategies for NSSI.

Comparing among the Experiences of Self-Cutting, Hitting, and Scratching in Chinese Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools: An Interview Study.

This study examined adolescents’ experiences associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and compared among the experiences of self-cutting, hitting, and scratching. Participants included 42 Chinese adolescents attending secondary schools. They had at least three NSSI episodes in the preceding year. Information about their experiences of NSSI was assessed by structured interviews. Regardless of the methods, NSSI primarily served the affect regulation function and was usually preceded by negative affects and followed by positive affect. Additionally, as compared to self-hitting and scratching, self-cutting indicated a higher level of distress, resulted in less subjective feelings of pain, and was more likely to be performed to relieve dysphoric affects. This study suggests that different NSSI methods may signal different underlying psychopathologies.