title: Associations of School Connectedness With Adolescent Suicidality: Gender Differences and the Role of Risk of Depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have not examined associations of school connectedness with adolescent suicidal behaviours stratified by gender, while including a measure of depression. We analyzed survey data to determine whether there are independent protective associations of higher school connectedness with suicidal behaviours in Canadian adolescents, while controlling for potential confounders, including risk of depression; and whether such associations differ by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from a stratified cluster sample of randomly selected classes of students in schools in 3 of Canada's Atlantic provinces, we used multiple logistic regression to examine whether associations of risk of depression, measured using the 12-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, lessened protective associations of higher school connectedness with suicidal behaviours in grades 10 and 12 students, while stratifying by gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for risk of depression, higher school connectedness was independently associated with decreased suicidal ideation in both genders and with suicidal attempt in females. In males, higher connectedness was no longer protective for suicide attempt when risk of depression was included in the model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School connectedness, which is felt to have positive influences on many types of adolescent behaviour, appears to also be both directly and indirectly protective for suicidality. These effects may occur through different pathways in females and males. Given the protection it offers both genders, including those at risk and not at risk of depression, increasing school connectedness should be considered as a universal adolescent mental health strategy. Studies that examine school connectedness should include analyses that examine potential differences between males and females.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Donald B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Langille
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asbridge
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cragg
authors.affiliation: Staff Psychiatrist, Canadian Armed Forces Health Services Centre (Atlantic), Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rasic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*