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Attitudes toward suicide in the adolescent population
Urska Arnautovska1, Onja T Grad
1Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. urska.arnautovska@gmail.com
Crisis
|March 4, 2010
Summary
Adolescents with more permissive attitudes toward suicide, particularly girls, showed increased risk factors. This suggests that accepting suicide is a risk, not a protective factor, in adolescent suicidal behavior.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on the relationship between attitudes toward suicide and suicidal behavior.
- Slovenia faces a high suicide rate, especially among adolescents.
- Contradictory findings complicate understanding the attitude-behavior link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adolescent attitudes toward suicide in Slovenia.
- To explore the connection between these attitudes and suicide risk factors.
- To address the high adolescent suicide rate in the region.
Main Methods:
- A survey on attitudes toward suicide was administered.
- 423 high school students participated.
- Participants were from three Slovenian regions with varying suicide rates.
Main Results:
- Girls exhibited more permissive attitudes toward suicide than boys.
- Permissive attitudes correlated positively with most identified suicide risk factors.
- Findings support the expectation of gender differences in attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Permissive attitudes toward suicide appear to be a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior in adolescents.
- The study highlights the need to address adolescent attitudes in suicide prevention strategies.
- Further research is recommended to explore underlying mechanisms and refine interventions.
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