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Explaining gender differences in non-fatal suicidal behaviour among adolescents: a population-based study.
Michael Kaess1, Peter Parzer, Johann Haffner
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. michael.kaess@unimelb.edu.au
BMC Public Health
|July 29, 2011
Summary
Adolescent suicidal behavior shows gender differences, but emotional and behavioral problems explain most of these disparities. Understanding these issues is key to addressing youth suicide risks.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents.
- Non-fatal suicidal behavior is a significant public health concern.
- Gender differences in adolescent suicidal behavior require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in the prevalence of suicidal behavior among adolescents.
- To examine the association between emotional and behavioral problems and suicidal behavior in adolescents.
- To determine the extent to which emotional and behavioral problems explain gender differences in suicidal behavior.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 5,512 ninth-grade students in Southern Germany.
- Utilized self-report questionnaires, including the Youth Self-Report (YSR).
- Assessed suicidal behavior (thoughts, attempts) and emotional/behavioral problems.
Main Results:
- Females reported higher rates of suicidal thoughts (19.8%) and attempts (10.8%) than males (9.3% and 4.9%).
- Adolescent females exhibited significantly higher overall emotional and behavioral problems (mean difference 4.98).
- Emotional and behavioral problems explained a substantial portion (pseudo-R2 30-23.2%) of suicidal behavior, with gender contributing minimally (2.7-2.3%).
Conclusions:
- Gender differences in adolescent suicidal behavior are largely explained by disparities in emotional and behavioral problems.
- Emotional and behavioral problems are stronger predictors of suicidal behavior than gender alone.
- Interventions targeting emotional and behavioral issues may help reduce gender disparities in adolescent suicidal behavior.
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