Unraveling the Complexities Between Reasons and Motivations Behind Suicide Behaviors: A Population-Based Study of Hong Kong Secondary School Students

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the importance of and interconnected nature between the reasons and motivations underlying suicide behaviors among adolescents in Hong Kong.

Methods

Suicide behaviors include suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. A subset of data was extracted for analysis from the 2016 wave of the Hong Kong Youth Sexuality Study. This subset comprised 1,744 adolescents who had considered, or attempted, suicide. Descriptive and network analysis was applied to explore the connections between suicide behavior reasons and motivations.

Results

Both the descriptive and network analyses revealed that Hong Kong adolescents experienced multiple reasons and motivations behind their suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. The primary reasons were emotional problems, family-related issues, and academic pressures. The main motivations were to get relief from a terrible state of mind, to escape from an impossible situation, and to end suffering. While these three main motivations were prevalent across nearly all the reasons, distinctive associations also emerged. Desire to die was a key motivation when suicide behaviors stemmed from a sense of meaninglessness or financial problems. Expressing love was a significant motivation when suicide behavior was related to the loss of a loved one. Sex differences were observed in the patterns of reasons and motivations.

Discussion

The factors driving suicide behaviors among adolescents are complex and exhibit sex differences. Suicide behaviors may function as a coping mechanism for severe psychological distress. Distinctive reason-motivation connections underscore elevated risk levels among specific groups of adolescents and provide critical insights for designing targeted interventions.