Citation

Laghi F, Baiocco R, D'Alessio M, Gurrieri G. Eur. Psychiatry 2009; 24(1): 41-46.

Affiliation

Faculty of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy. fiorenzo.laghi@uniroma1.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.08.006

PMID

18835138

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Many studies have enlightened the relevance of deepening our knowledge of suicidal ideation among adolescents. However, research has given insufficient attention to the impact of time perspective on suicidal ideation: the present study confirms this relationship in a large sample of adolescents. METHOD: A survey was conducted on a sample of 3700 Italian adolescents. We obtained data using a structured questionnaire addressing suicidal ideation, mental health status, self-esteem, individual and family characteristics, and time perspective (ZTPI) in three temporal frames: the past, present and future, and the attitude related to each one of them. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 9.2% of the sample reported severe suicidal ideation during the past two weeks; 7.6% reported moderate suicidal ideation. Female adolescents were more likely to report severe suicidal ideation when compared to males (chi((2))(2)=13.38, P=.001). There were no differences regarding age (chi((1))(2)=2.81, P=.245) and SES (chi((2))(2)=8.67, P=.08). The first discriminant function was mostly explained by psychopathological symptoms (General Global Index), self-esteem and two dimensions of the ZTPI (Negative Past and Fatalistic Present). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in time perspective dimensions between moderate and severe ideators suggest that these groups should be considered and analyzed as two discrete groups in further research.

Language: en