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Association between aggressive and non-fatal suicidal behaviors among U.S. high school students
Chiung M Chen1, Thomas C Harford1, Bridget F Grant2
1CSR, Incorporated, 901N. Stuart Street, Suite 904-A, Arlington, VA 22203, United States.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|September 10, 2020
Summary
Aggressive behavior and non-fatal suicidal behaviors (NFSB) in students are linked, but this association disappears when accounting for risk factors like substance use and bullying. Addressing these factors is key for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Adolescent aggression and non-fatal suicidal behaviors (NFSB) are significant public health concerns.
- Understanding the interplay between these behaviors and their underlying risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
- Previous research suggests potential links, but the specific mediating and moderating factors require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the association between aggressive behaviors and NFSB among U.S. high school students.
- To examine if substance use, bullying, and sexual/dating violence victimization explain the relationship between aggression and NFSB.
- To identify other potential risk factors contributing to these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 14,765 U.S. high school students from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- Employed confirmatory latent class analysis (LCA) to identify distinct classes of NFSB and aggressive behavior.
- Estimated odds ratios (OR) using a structural model to assess the association between behaviors and risk factors.
Main Results:
- An initial significant association (OR=2.55) between NFSB and aggressive behavior was found.
- This association became nonsignificant (OR=1.08) after adjusting for covariates.
- Significant common risk factors identified include dating violence, bullying, weapon threats/injury, and substance misuse (illegal drugs, prescription opioids).
Conclusions:
- The direct association between adolescent aggression and NFSB is not significant when common risk factors are considered.
- Substance use, bullying, and sexual/dating violence victimization are critical targets for interventions aimed at reducing both aggressive and suicidal behaviors.
- Prevention and intervention efforts should focus on addressing these shared risk factors to protect students.
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