Citation

Islam MI, Sharwood L, Chadwick V, Esgin T, Martiniuk A. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022; 19(15): e9131.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph19159131

PMID

35897497

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding and encouraging social and emotional well-being (SEWB) among Indigenous adolescents is vital in countering the impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. As self-harm and suicidality are considered markers of poor SEWB among Indigenous communities, we aimed to identify the individual-level and community-level factors protecting Indigenous adolescents from self-harm and suicidality.

METHODS: Data came from Footprints in Time-The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (waves 10 and 11), conducted among Indigenous families across Australia. A strengths-based analysis fitted multilevel logistic regression to explore associations with factors proposed as protective against self-reported self-harm and suicidality among Indigenous adolescents.

RESULTS: Our study cohort included 365 adolescents with complete data for the variables of interest. Adolescents had a mean (SD) age of 14.04 (0.45) years and a sex ratio of almost 1:1, and most were attending school (96.2%). Previous self-harm was reported by 8.2% (n = 30); previous suicidality was reported by 4.1% (n = 15). Individual-level factors protecting against self-harm and suicidality were being male, living in a cohesive family, and having low total Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire scores (p < 0.05 for all). Residing in major cities compared with regional/remote areas was protective against self-harm (OR 5.94, 95% CI 1.31-26.81). Strong cultural identity was not found to be a protective factor against self-harm and/or suicidality in the sample.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified key individual- and community-level factors that can protect Australian Indigenous adolescents against self-harm and suicidality, particularly family cohesion. Identifying strengths for this at-risk population can inform prevention strategies, particularly for rural living adolescents with high distress.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Child; Humans; Female; Male; adolescent; Suicidal Ideation; suicide; *Suicide; Longitudinal Studies; *Self-Injurious Behavior/epidemiology/psychology; adolescent health; Australia/epidemiology; health and wellbeing; indigenous peoples; Protective Factors; self-injurious behaviour