Contextual socioeconomic disadvantage, stress process model, and suicide attempts among adolescents

Citation

Yildiz, Muhammed & Demirhan, Emirhan (2018). Contextual socioeconomic disadvantage, stress process model, and suicide attempts among adolescents. 2018 Add Health Users Conference. Bethesda, MD.

Abstract

Contextual-level socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with various mental and behavioral health problems; however, there is a lack of research on whether and how it affects adolescent suicidal behaviors. Using data from the first two waves of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), I examine whether contextual-level socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with suicide attempts of adolescents above and beyond the individual-level socioeconomic status, and whether this association can be explained by differential exposure to stress process mechanisms, namely (1) stressors, (2) social and psychological resources, and (3) mental/behavioral health problems. Potential gender differences were also investigated. Multilevel logistic regression models revealed that contextual socioeconomic disadvantage was significantly associated with suicide attempts of boys, above and beyond the individual/family socioeconomic status measures and other demographic controls. Mental and behavioral health problems (depression and substance use) partially mediated the relationship, but a residual effect of contextual socioeconomic disadvantage remained. Other results, implications, and limitations of the study are discussed.

Reference Type

Conference proceeding

Book Title

2018 Add Health Users Conference

Author(s)

Yildiz, Muhammed
Demirhan, Emirhan

Year Published

2018

City of Publication

Bethesda, MD

Reference ID

9390