Citation

Yıldız M, Demirhan E, Gurbuz S. J. Youth Adolesc. 2019; 48(4): 802-814.

Affiliation

Department of Sociology, Midwestern State University, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX, 76308, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10964-018-0961-z

PMID

30499039

Abstract

Multilevel research on whether and how contextual socioeconomic disadvantage affects adolescent suicidal behaviors is scarce. Using data from the first two waves (1994/95 and 1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 13,335; 49.63% girls; M_age = 15.02 years), this study examined (1) the association between area-level socioeconomic disadvantage and adolescent suicide attempts over and above individual-level socioeconomic factors, (2) the moderating role of gender, and (3) the mediating roles of contextually relevant stressors and available psychosocial resources. The results revealed that area-level socioeconomic disadvantage increased the risk of attempting suicide even after adjusting for individual-level socioeconomic status, especially for boys. Consistent with the stress process perspective, reports of exposure to violence and lack of safety explain this contextual effect. National suicidal behavior prevention strategies across the U.S. should recognize the strong association with the socioeconomic context, along with individual-level risk factors.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent suicidal behaviors; Gender; Social support; Socioeconomic context; Stress process; Suicide attempt