A population-based survey of the characteristics of high school students with and without a history of suicidal behavior.
In a sample of 570 15- and 16-year-old normal high school students, the characteristics of those with and without a history of suicidal behavior were compared. In a written inquiry, information was obtained on family background, emotional and behavioral problems, sexual and physical abuse and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Differences between the students with and without a history of suicidal behavior were statistically analyzed for boys and girls separately by a matched control design. The results for both boys and girls indicated that the experience of sexual abuse, feelings of loneliness, depressed mood, low self-esteem and the use of drugs were particularly strongly related to suicidal thoughts and behavior; for girls, physical abuse and for boys, low self-reported academic achievement appeared to be clearly related aspects. Furthermore, the strong interrelations between all of these variables is underlined, suggesting a multi-problem background of youngsters with a history of suicidal behavior.
Garnefski
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N
Department of Clinical, Health and Personality Psychology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Diekstra
R F
RF
de Heus
P
P
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010553:Personality Development; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data