title: Problem solving moderates the effects of life event stress and chronic stress on suicidal behaviors in adolescence.
abstract: The present study examined the unique and interactive effects of stress and problem-solving skills on suicidal behaviors among 102 inpatient adolescents. As expected, life event stress and chronic stress each significantly predicted suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Problem solving significantly predicted suicidal ideation, but not suicide attempt. Problem solving moderated the associations between life event stress and suicidal behaviors, as well as between chronic stress and suicidal ideation, but not chronic stress and suicide attempt. At high levels of stress, adolescents with poor problem-solving skills experienced elevated suicidal ideation and were at greater risk of making a nonfatal suicide attempt. The interactive effects decreased to non-significance after controlling for depressive symptoms and hopelessness. Clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Jeremy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: Lindsey L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Monteith
authors.forename: Monica J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Garza
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venta
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011340:Problem Solving; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*