Relational-Level Factors Influencing Suicidal Behaviors Among Korean Adolescents

To identify relational-level risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents.

This study is a secondary data analysis of cross-sectional national data on Youth Health Behavior collected in June 2017. The final sample (n = 62,276), collected from 2,400 classes in 800 schools, reflects stratification, clustering, and weight. It is representative of the population (n = 3,027,488).

This study used relational factor variables, including experiences of assault, living with family or not, and adolescents' confidants. Dependent variables included suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt. This study used logistic regression analyses on the complex sample to examine relational-level risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt.

The adjusted logistic regression models found that experiences of assault, living with family or not, and adolescents' confidants were all significantly associated with suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. In particular, 35.3% of victims had thought about suicide seriously, and victims of assault were approximately eight times more likely to attempt suicide compared to nonvictims.

The experience of assault by others was found to be a strongly associated risk factor for suicidal behaviors in adolescents. Living with family and the presence of confidants to talk with were found to be protective factors against suicidal behaviors. To be specific, talking with parents about personal worries and troubles was more protective against suicidal behaviors than talking with a sibling, friend, or teacher.

Nurses should provide crisis intervention for symptoms of trauma and suicidal behaviors among assault victims. Suicide prevention efforts should focus more on adolescents not living with family. They should also aim to enhance adolescents' family interactions. Encouraging adolescents to talk with their parents may mitigate the effects of risk factors on suicidal behaviors.