Victimization by peers and adolescent suicide in three US samples.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between victimization by peers and suicidal ideation and behavior in 3 samples of adolescents in the United States.


METHODS
This study was a secondary analysis of data from 3 cohorts of adolescents: (1) a nationally representative survey of adolescents in grade 7 through 12, Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, conducted by the Carolina Population Center in 1994-1995; (2) a nationally representative survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005; and (3) a survey in a high-risk community conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2004.


RESULTS
Controlling for differences in age, sex, race/ethnicity, and depressive symptomology, adolescents reporting more frequent victimization by peers were more likely to report suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior. Adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-2.15) to 3.83 (95% CI = 2.78-5.27) for the different outcome measures and data sets.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide further support for the need for effective prevention of peer victimization. Inclusion of questions about victimization experiences might aid formal and informal suicide screening efforts.
Kaminski
Jennifer Wyatt
JW
Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. JKaminski@cdc.gov
Fang
Xiangming
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010379:Peer Group; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology