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Birth order: self-injurious and suicidal behaviour among adolescents
Bruce Kirkcaldy1, Randall Richardson-Vejlgaard, Georg Siefen
1International Centre for the Study of Occupational & Mental Health, Düsseldorf, Germany. brucedavidkirkcaldy@yahoo.de
Psychology, Health & Medicine
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Middle-born children, particularly females, show higher risks for self-harm and suicidal behavior. Increased sibling numbers also correlate with elevated suicidal behavior risk in youth.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Birth order and family size are recognized demographic factors potentially influencing child development and behavior.
- Previous research suggests correlations between family structure and various psychological outcomes.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for identifying at-risk youth in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between birth order, number of siblings, and the prevalence of self-injurious and suicidal behavior in a clinical sample of children and adolescents.
- To examine gender differences in these associations.
- To identify specific demographic risk factors for self-harm and suicidal ideation in youth.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 2553 children and adolescents attending a German psychiatry clinic.
- Data collected via a structured interview inventory (Basis-Dokumentation or 'Ba-Do') assessing self-injurious behavior, suicidal intent, socially disruptive behavior, and socio-demographic variables.
- Statistical analyses were performed to examine correlations and group differences based on birth order and gender.
Main Results:
- Birth order was significantly associated with both suicidal and self-injurious behavior, with middle-born children exhibiting higher rates.
- Females were more than twice as likely to self-injure compared to males.
- Among females, middle-born children had a higher likelihood of suicide attempts, while among males, middle-born children were more prone to self-injury.
- A higher number of siblings correlated significantly with increased risk for both suicidal history and self-injurious behavior, with the highest risk observed in those with four or more siblings.
Conclusions:
- Birth order and family size are significant demographic correlates of self-injurious and suicidal behaviors in youth presenting to psychiatric services.
- Middle birth order appears to be a specific risk factor, particularly for suicidal behavior in females and self-injurious behavior in males.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering family structure in the assessment and intervention strategies for at-risk youth.
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