Psychosocial risk factors for future adolescent suicide attempts.
An array of psychosocial risk factors for making a suicide attempt were examined in a representative sample of 1,508 older (14- to 18-year-old) high school students, 26 of whom made a suicide attempt during the year following entry into the study. Strongest predictors of future suicide attempt were history of past attempt, current suicidal ideation and depression, recent attempt by a friend, low self-esteem, and having been born to a teenage mother. The results suggest that adolescents who are depressed and those who attempt suicide share many psychosocial risk factors. The efficacy of two screeners (one consisting of 4 items and the other of 6 variables) is reported. Potential usefulness for research and communitywide prevention is discussed.
Lewinsohn
P M
PM
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene 97403-1983.
Rohde
P
P
Seeley
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data