Predictors of suicidal behavior in a high school student population: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine high school students' suicidal behavior and to identify predictors of suicide attempt among adolescents in Timis County, Romania. We hypothesized that suicide attempt is associated with other health-risk behaviors.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study we included 2908 high school students in grades 9 to 12. The students were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire during a normal class. We examined the relationship between having attempted suicide and engaging in other health-risk or problem behaviors.


RESULTS
During the previous 12 months, 15.4% of the students had had suicidal ideation, 7.5% had made a suicide plan and 6.1% reported that they had attempted suicide. Based on logistic regression multivariate analysis, attempted suicide was associated with feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks (OR = 4.74; 95% CI: 3.07-7.31), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.83-5.50), being physically aggressed by his or her father (OR = 4.28; 95% CI: 1.96-9.34), performing poorly at school (OR = 4.22; 95% CI: 1.51-11.74), having an impaired relationship with parents (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.17-5.12), not eating for 24 hours or more to lose weight or to avoid gaining weight during the past 30 days (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.40-3.53), being female (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.21-2.99) and carrying a weapon (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.53-3.90).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that suicide attempts are associated with other risk behaviors. These behaviors may help to evaluate suicide risk and should be considered when establishing preventive programs.
Ursoniu
Sorin
S
Department of Public Health, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania, sursoniu@umft.ro.
Putnoky
Salomeia
S
Vlaicu
Brigitha
B
Vladescu
Cristian
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult