Citation

Rotheram-Borus MJ, Trautman PD, Dopkins SC, Shrout PE. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 1990; 58(5): 554-561.

Affiliation

Division of Child Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2254501

Abstract

Cognitive style and pleasant activities of 77 suicide-attempting female minority adolescents were compared with those of 2 groups of non-suicide-attempting female minority adolescents, 39 who were psychiatrically disturbed and 23 who were nondisturbed. Suicide attempters differed from other groups, even when depression and IQ were statistically controlled. They reported significantly fewer alternatives for solving interpersonal problems, were significantly more focused on problems, and were more likely to report a wishful thinking style of coping in stressful situations than were members of the nondisturbed comparison group. Across groups, depression was associated with significantly more dysfunctional attributions. Interpersonal problem-solving ability and attributional style best distinguished the suicide attempters. Results suggest using different cognitive-behavioral interventions with depressed and nondepressed minority female adolescent suicide attempters.

Language: en