"'Self-Harm' Content in Media Spreads Among Adolescents"

After Broadcasting Self-Harm Content
Sharp Increase in Adolescents Visiting Emergency Rooms for Self-Harm
Notable Rise Among Female Adolescents

A study has found that self-harm content appearing in the media has a negative impact on actual adolescents. Experts point out that social concern is necessary, as this is the first study to reveal the influence of media on adolescent self-harm based on national data.

Professors Hyo Won Kim and Tae Yeop Lee from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Professor Nam Guk Kim from the Department of Convergence Medicine at Asan Medical Center, Seoul (from left).

The research team led by Professors Kim Hyo-won and Lee Tae-yeop from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seoul Asan Medical Center, along with Professor Kim Nam-guk from the Department of Convergence Medicine, announced on the 3rd that emergency room visits due to self-harm among adolescents significantly increased after self-harm content was broadcast in a TV program in March 2018.

The team collected and analyzed data of 115,647 patients who visited emergency rooms due to self-harm between January 2015 and December 2018 using the National Emergency Patient Treatment Information Network. The self-harm content was aired at the end of March 2018 and attracted attention as it was introduced in a broadcast program primarily targeting adolescents.

The researchers analyzed the monthly average number of emergency room visits due to self-harm. As a result, a clear difference was observed between before (February to March 2018) and after (April to December 2018) the broadcast of the self-harm content. During this period, for ages 10-14, the number increased from 0.9 to 3.1 per 100,000 population per month; for ages 15-19, from 5.7 to 10.8; and for ages 20-24, from 7.3 to 11.0. Among these, the increase was particularly notable among females aged 15-19 and males aged 20-24.

Yearly differences were also prominent. The annual number of emergency room visits due to self-harm for ages 10-14 rose from 8.1 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 31.1 in 2018. During the same period, for ages 15-19, it increased from 63.5 to 119.0, and for ages 20-24, from 75.7 to 127.1. The research team explained that it is possible to confirm a clear increase in self-harm attempts in 2018, the year when the self-harm content was broadcast.

In particular, self-harm among female adolescents increased noticeably. Among 10-14-year-olds who visited emergency rooms due to self-harm, the proportion of females rose from 46.6% in 2015 to 76.7% in 2018 when the self-harm content was aired. During the same period, the female proportion for ages 15-19 increased from 55.8% to 67.8%, and for ages 20-24, from 55.7% to 61.9%.

Professor Kim Hyo-won stated, "Self-harm content in the media conveys the message to adolescents that 'self-harm is acceptable' or 'self-harm is cool,' and has the effect of informing many adolescents about self-harm as a way to resolve psychological difficulties. While freedom of expression in the media should be respected, social concern is also necessary regarding the impact of media on adolescent mental health."

Professor Kim Nam-guk said, "This study is meaningful in that it analyzed nationwide emergency room visit data to confirm the impact of sudden stimuli on groups highly influenced by media stimuli, such as adolescents. We will continue related research to identify various sudden stimuli in our society and sensitive social groups in advance and strive to reduce the impact of sudden stimuli."

This study was published in the recent issue of the international journal 'Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (IF 13.113),' published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.