Suicidal behavior in the family and adolescent risk behavior

Citation

Cerel, Julie & Roberts, Timothy A. (2005). Suicidal behavior in the family and adolescent risk behavior. Journal of Adolescent Health. vol. 36 (4) pp. 352.e8-352.e14

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents exposed to suicide attempts and suicide deaths by a family member and to evaluate the separate associations between exposure to a family member’s suicide attempts or suicide death and risk behaviors, social-emotional functioning, and family connectedness. Method We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in 1995 for wave I of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (n = 5,918). The independent variable was the exposure to suicidal behavior by a family member during the past 12 months (death by suicide, suicide attempt, and no suicidal behavior). The dependent variables were substance use, suicidal behavior, violent behavior, perceived shortened life expectancy, emotional distress, and parental and adolescent reports of family connectedness. Results In the year before the survey, 3.9% of adolescents experienced a family member’s suicide attempt whereas 1.2% experienced a family member’s death by suicide. In regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic variables, adolescents who had experienced the suicide attempt of a family member were more likely than those with no exposure to report the following: cigarette and marijuana use, alcohol misuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, fighting and inflicting injuries, decreased life-expectancy, emotional distress, and decreased adolescent reports of parent-child and family connectedness. Adolescents who had experienced a family member’s death by suicide were more likely to report marijuana use and alcohol misuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, inflicting severe injuries, and emotional distress. Conclusions Adolescents who have experienced suicide attempts or suicide deaths in the family show high levels of at-risk behaviors, most notably their own suicidal ideation and attempts.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.08.010

Keyword(s)

Family Suicide Adolescent Risk-behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescent Health

Author(s)

Cerel, Julie
Roberts, Timothy A.

Year Published

2005

Volume Number

36

Issue Number

4

Pages

352.e8-352.e14

ISSN/ISBN

1054-139X

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.08.010

Reference ID

7417