IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v177y2025ics019074092500372x.html

Uncovering the depressive symptom network in self-harming rural children: a Bayesian undirected network analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Qiu, Tongyu
  • Li, Pengyuan
  • Fang, Yuan

Abstract

Self-harm among children is a growing public health concern, particularly in rural settings where unique socioeconomic and environmental factors increase vulnerability. This study explored depressive symptom networks in rural children with and without self-harm behaviors, using Bayesian undirected network analysis to identify symptom-level differences and inform targeted interventions. Data were collected from 2,009 rural elementary school students (Mage = 10.73 years, SD = 1.65) across seven Chinese provinces. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory, and self-harm behaviors were identified through self-reported measures. Bayesian undirected network analysis compared depressive symptom networks between children with (N = 417) and without (N = 1592) self-harm behaviors. The results revealed that children with self-harm behaviors exhibited less densely connected symptom networks, with Anhedonia, Feeling Unloved, and Somatic Concerns as the most central symptoms. In contrast, children without self-harm behaviors displayed denser, strongly clustered networks, with Anhedonia, Permissive Worrying, and Somatic Concerns as central symptoms. Significant differences in network density and clustering coefficients were observed between the two groups. These findings suggest that self-harming children experience more fragmented emotional and social dynamics, while non-self-harming children demonstrate stronger symptom interconnectivity that may support better emotional regulation. These findings emphasize the need for rural-specific mental health policies and services, including school-based programs, telepsychiatry, and community-driven efforts to reduce mental health stigma and improve early detection of depressive symptoms and self-harm behaviors. By addressing the unique challenges of rural communities, this study contributes to improved mental health outcomes and supports the development of evidence-based, symptom-focused interventions for underserved populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiu, Tongyu & Li, Pengyuan & Fang, Yuan, 2025. "Uncovering the depressive symptom network in self-harming rural children: a Bayesian undirected network analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:177:y:2025:i:c:s019074092500372x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108489
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019074092500372X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108489?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Epskamp, Sacha & Cramer, Angélique O.J. & Waldorp, Lourens J. & Schmittmann, Verena D. & Borsboom, Denny, 2012. "qgraph: Network Visualizations of Relationships in Psychometric Data," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i04).
    2. Janusz Surzykiewicz & Sebastian Binyamin Skalski & Agnieszka Sołbut & Sebastian Rutkowski & Karol Konaszewski, 2022. "Resilience and Regulation of Emotions in Adolescents: Serial Mediation Analysis through Self-Esteem and the Perceived Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-9, June.
    3. Angélique O J Cramer & Claudia D van Borkulo & Erik J Giltay & Han L J van der Maas & Kenneth S Kendler & Marten Scheffer & Denny Borsboom, 2016. "Major Depression as a Complex Dynamic System," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Janessa M. Graves & Demetrius A. Abshire & Elissa Koontz & Jessica L. Mackelprang, 2024. "Identifying Challenges and Solutions for Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Youth: Insights from Adult Community Members," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Bryant, Louise D. & O'Shea, Roseanne & Farley, Kate & Brennan, Cathy & Crosby, Helen F. & Guthrie, Elspeth & House, Allan, 2021. "Understanding the functions of repeated self-harm: A Q methodology approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    6. Luxi Chen & Fang Yang, 2022. "Social Support and Loneliness among Chinese Rural-to-Urban Migrant Children: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Roles of Social Competence and Stress Mindset," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    7. repec:plo:pone00:0153760 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Haddow, Sonal & Taylor, Emily P. & Schwannauer, Matthias, 2021. "Positive peer relationships, coping and resilience in young people in alternative care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    9. Aline Lopes Moreira & Maria Ângela Mattar Yunes & Célia Regina Rangel Nascimento & Lívia Maria Bedin, 2021. "Children’s Subjective Well-Being, Peer Relationships and Resilience: An Integrative Literature Review," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(5), pages 1723-1742, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhou, Jianhua & Zhang, Lulu & Gong, Xue, 2023. "Longitudinal network relations between symptoms of problematic internet game use and internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese early adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    2. Miguel Ángel Castellanos & Berta Ausín & Sara Bestea & Clara González-Sanguino & Manuel Muñoz, 2020. "A Network Analysis of Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms and Age- and Gender-Related Differences in People over 65 in a Madrid Community Sample (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, December.
    3. María Guillot-Valdés & Alejandro Guillén-Riquelme & Juan Carlos Sierra & Gualberto Buela-Casal, 2022. "Network and Exploratory Factorial Analysis of the Depression Clinical Evaluation Test," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-26, August.
    4. Srebrenka Letina & Tessa F. Blanken & Marie K. Deserno & Denny Borsboom, 2019. "Expanding Network Analysis Tools in Psychological Networks: Minimal Spanning Trees, Participation Coefficients, and Motif Analysis Applied to a Network of 26 Psychological Attributes," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-27, February.
    5. Nadja Bodner & Laura Bringmann & Francis Tuerlinckx & Peter Jonge & Eva Ceulemans, 2022. "ConNEcT: A Novel Network Approach for Investigating the Co-occurrence of Binary Psychopathological Symptoms Over Time," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 87(1), pages 107-132, March.
    6. Inken Höller & Dajana Schreiber & Fionneke Bos & Thomas Forkmann & Tobias Teismann & Jürgen Margraf, 2022. "The Mereology of Depression—Networks of Depressive Symptoms during the Course of Psychotherapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    7. M. Marsman & K. Huth & L. J. Waldorp & I. Ntzoufras, 2022. "Objective Bayesian Edge Screening and Structure Selection for Ising Networks," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 87(1), pages 47-82, March.
    8. Huth, K.B.S. & van der Wal, J. & Zavlis, O. & Luigjes, J. & Lakerveld, J. & Galenkamp, H. & Lok, A. & Stronks, K. & Bockting, C.L. & Marsman, M. & Goudriaan, A.E. & van Holst, R.J., 2025. "Individual and neighborhood determinants of depressive symptoms in ethnic minorities in the urban HELIUS sample: a multi-level network perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    9. Georgia Mangion & Melanie Simmonds-Buckley & Stephen Kellett & Peter Taylor & Amy Degnan & Charlotte Humphrey & Kate Freshwater & Marisa Poggioli & Cristina Fiorani, 2022. "Modelling Identity Disturbance: A Network Analysis of the Personality Structure Questionnaire (PSQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Marija Janković & Jelle Sijtsema & Stefan Bogaerts, 2026. "A Network Analysis of Social and Leisure Activities, Resilience, and Mental Health: Differences by Adverse Childhood Experiences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 1-26, February.
    11. Hui Zhou & Weilong Xiao & Feng Zhu & Hanyu Liang, 2026. "Bidirectional Relations Between Loneliness and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 575-593, April.
    12. Eirini Leriou, 2023. "Understanding and Measuring Child Well-being in the Region of Attica, Greece: Round Five," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1395-1451, August.
    13. Denny Borsboom, 2022. "Possible Futures for Network Psychometrics," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 87(1), pages 253-265, March.
    14. Jayawickreme, Nuwan & Mootoo, Candace & Fountain, Christine & Rasmussen, Andrew & Jayawickreme, Eranda & Bertuccio, Rebecca F., 2017. "Post-conflict struggles as networks of problems: A network analysis of trauma, daily stressors and psychological distress among Sri Lankan war survivors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 119-132.
    15. Klaas Sijtsma & Jules L. Ellis & Denny Borsboom, 2024. "Recognize the Value of the Sum Score, Psychometrics’ Greatest Accomplishment," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 89(1), pages 84-117, March.
    16. repec:osf:osfxxx:ha4cw_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Mihail Halachev & Viktoria-Eleni Gountouna & Alison Meynert & Gannie Tzoneva & Alan R. Shuldiner & Colin A. Semple & James F. Wilson, 2024. "Regionally enriched rare deleterious exonic variants in the UK and Ireland," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    18. Yi-Lung Chen & Hsing-Ying Ho & Ray C. Hsiao & Wei-Hsin Lu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Correlations between Quality of Life, School Bullying, and Suicide in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-12, May.
    19. Kan, Kees-Jan & van der Maas, Han L.J. & Levine, Stephen Z., 2019. "Extending psychometric network analysis: Empirical evidence against g in favor of mutualism?," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 52-62.
    20. Knyspel, Jacob & Plomin, Robert, 2024. "Comparing factor and network models of cognitive abilities using twin data," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    21. Don Watson & Manfred Krug & Claus-Christian Carbon, 2022. "The relationship between citations and the linguistic traits of specific academic discourse communities identified by using social network analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(4), pages 1755-1781, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:177:y:2025:i:c:s019074092500372x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.