Predictors of suicidal behavior in a high school student population: a cross-sectional study

To examine high school students' suicidal behavior and to identify predictors of suicide attempt among adolescents in Timis County, Romania. We hypothesized that suicide attempt is associated with other health-risk behaviors.

In this cross-sectional study we included 2908 high school students in grades 9 to 12. The students were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire during a normal class. We examined the relationship between having attempted suicide and engaging in other health-risk or problem behaviors.

During the previous 12 months, 15.4% of the students had had suicidal ideation, 7.5% had made a suicide plan and 6.1% reported that they had attempted suicide. Based on logistic regression multivariate analysis, attempted suicide was associated with feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more consecutive weeks (OR = 4.74; 95% CI: 3.07-7.31), being forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.83-5.50), being physically aggressed by his or her father (OR = 4.28; 95% CI: 1.96-9.34), performing poorly at school (OR = 4.22; 95% CI: 1.51-11.74), having an impaired relationship with parents (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.17-5.12), not eating for 24 hours or more to lose weight or to avoid gaining weight during the past 30 days (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.40-3.53), being female (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.21-2.99) and carrying a weapon (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.53-3.90).

This study suggests that suicide attempts are associated with other risk behaviors. These behaviors may help to evaluate suicide risk and should be considered when establishing preventive programs.