Objective:

To investigate gender-specific associations of negative life events (NLE) and perceived social support (PSS) with self-stigma among Chinese adolescents.

Approach:

• Study Design: Longitudinal study using data from an adolescent mental health surveillance conducted from September 2023 to September 2024.
• Participants: 4,711 participants, including 2,252 females, from Dongying Experimental Middle School.
• Data Collection: Self-stigma, NLE, and PSS were measured repeatedly during three visits, with an average interval of six months.
• Statistical Analysis: Generalized estimating equations were fitted to explore associations of NLE and PSS on self-stigma scores by gender.

Key Findings:

• Baseline NLE were associated with higher self-stigma scores in males (β = 0.036, P < 0.001), not significant in females (β = 0.019, P = 0.059).
• Low perceived social support (PSSL) and moderate perceived social support (PSSM) had significant interactions with self-stigma in females (P < 0.003 and P < 0.017, respectively).
• Participants experiencing both NLE and PSSL had higher self-stigma scores (β = 0.199 for males; β = 0.186 for females).

Interpretation:

NLE and PSS have different associations with self-stigma based on gender among adolescents.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to a specific geographic area (Dongying, China) and may not be generalizable to other regions.
• The reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the need to consider gender differences in the impact of NLE and PSS on self-stigma among adolescents.