Citation

Farrell CT, Bolland JM, Cockerham WC. J. Adolesc. Health 2014; 56(1): 59-65.

Affiliation

Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.08.015

PMID

25438969

Abstract

PURPOSE: Evaluate the impact of social support and social context on suicide attempt in disadvantaged adolescents, and calculate that longitudinal risk of suicide attempt.

METHODS: Seven thousand two hundred ninety-nine adolescents were used to evaluate the effect of social support and context on suicide attempt, and to estimate the overall risk of suicide attempt.

RESULTS: Increased peer support reduced the risk of suicide attempt, and increased perceived inevitability of violence led to an increase in risk among 9-year-old children. As children age, the effect of overall peer support remains consistent, while there is a reduction in the effect of inevitability of violence. Approximately 36% of extremely impoverished adolescents attempt suicide by the age of 19.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides insight into the nature of suicide attempt within a grossly understudied population. Social support and social context have an important impact on suicidal behavior in extremely disadvantaged adolescents.

Language: en