Citation

McBee-Strayer SM, Alexy ER, Sheftall AH, Heck KM, Dombrowski-Stork CA, Bergdoll EE, Schlagbaum PM, Bridge JA. Arch. Suicide Res. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2019.1595797

PMID

30955465

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Health-risk behaviors associated with increased risk for suicide are more prevalent in old-for-grade students compared to age-appropriate-for-grade peers; however, the association between old-for-grade status and suicidal behavior is largely unknown. This study investigated sex-specific differences in suicidal ideation, planning, attempts and other risk behaviors by old-for-grade status.

METHODS: Secondary analyses utilizing bivariate and logistic regression methods for complex samples were conducted using data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for 16,579 female and 17,282 male high school students in grades 9-11.

RESULTS: Among both males and females, students considered old-for-grade reported increased drug use, feeling sad/hopeless, violence, sexual activity, and limited/no seatbelt use compared with their peers. Old-for-grade students were also more likely to report a suicide attempt with increased suicidal ideation and planning observed only in old-for-grade males. Associations between old-for-grade status and suicide risk-related outcomes were attenuated in both sexes after adjusting for demographic characteristics and other health-risk behaviors.

CONCLUSION: Findings suggest common risk factors (e.g. sadness, substance use) may explain increased rates of suicidal behaviors in old-for-grade students.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; old-for-grade; risk behavior; suicide