Risky behaviors and factors associated with suicide attempt in adolescents

The objective of this study was to identify the behavior risk factors associated with suicide attempt in adolescents and to determine gender-specific patterns of risk factors. In 2001, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted National Youth Risk Behavior Survey for 13,601 high school students in the U.S. Data were analyzed with logistic regressions to identify the risk behaviors. New significant risk factors (being offered illegal drugs at school, being abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend, gender, and ethnicity) were identified for suicidal attempt in adolescents. Patterns of risk behaviors differed among male and female groups. Several new risk behaviors associated with suicide attempt in adolescents were identified. There were notable differences in risk behaviors between two gender groups, especially in the area of depression. These findings could have potentially important implications for preventing adolescent suicide attempts.