Citation

Allison S, Pearce C, Martin C, Miller K, Long R. Arch. Suicide Res. 1995; 1: 229-242.

Affiliation

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

As part of a series of studies into the early detection of suicidal behaviour in adolescence, this study investigated relationships between adolescents' self-reports of perceived parental style, pessimism, and the spectrum of suicidal behaviour in a sample of Australian high school students (Mean age = 15.8). Three hundred and seven students completed a questionnaire that included demographic details, the Influential Relationships Questionnaire (IRQ), the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Adolescent Suicide Questionnaire. There was a high level of suicidal behaviour reported, with suicidal adolescents perceiving their parents to be significantly more critical, less caring and more overprotective. Multiple regression analyses examining a proposed pathway from perceived parental style to suicidality through the mediation of hopelessness found that both parental style and hopelessness made unique contributions to a composite suicidality score. The quality of parenting is relevant to the assessment of adolescent suicidality and the IRQ may be useful for the detection of perceived parenting difficulties in suicide prevention programmes.