What Drives Suicidal Ideation Among Youth in Reflexive Modern Societies?

This presentation examines the key determinants of suicidal ideation among Japanese youth in the context of reflexive modernity. Japan has long struggled with high suicide rates, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide rates among young people have notably increased. Government reports show that young women, particularly, are now more likely to commit suicide than before, raising significant public concern.

The concept of "reflexivity" is central to this analysis. Sociologists such as Giddens, Bauman, and Beck have argued that life in advanced modern societies is increasingly organized around reflexive practices, wherein individuals must constantly navigate choices and risks. In such contexts, even life and death can become matters of personal choice, a phenomenon that may contribute to rising suicidal ideation among youth.

Data for this study were collected from a nationwide sample of respondents aged 16 to 29, with a comparative sample of adults aged 30 to 59. The analysis focuses on four key factors: internet and social media use, friendship dynamics, social skills, and reflexivity, using multivariate analyses.

The findings reveal that: 1) online relationships spilling over into offline life increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation; 2) anxiety within friendships correlates with higher suicidal tendencies; 3) insufficient conflict resolution skills exacerbate suicidal thoughts; and 4) three reflexive factors, which are frequency of self-reflection, thinking of alternative life paths, and worrying about personal competence, are positively associated with suicidal ideation.

These results suggest that reflexive modernity presents a double-edged sword for young people. While it offers autonomy and self-determination, it may also lead them to confront existential choices, including that of life or death, under conditions of heightened uncertainty and social pressure.