[Suicidal Behavior in Chilean Adolescents: A Multidimensional Analysis Focused on Psychological, Clinical, and...

Suicidal behavior is a global public health issue, particularly among adolescents, where it stands as one of the leading causes of death in this age group. In Chile, adolescent suicide rates have alarmingly increased over recent decades, with psychological, clinical, and socio-familial factors emerging as key contributors. However, existing theoretical models face limitations when applied to specific sociocultural contexts.

To explain suicidal behavior in a clinical sample of Chilean adolescents, integrating psychological, clinical and socio-familial factors.

A non-experimental cross-sectional study was carried out in 388 adolescents (59.3% female; mean age: 15.63 years) admitted to the healthcare system in the Maule Region. Validated instruments were applied, including the BIS-11, DASS-21, DERS, ISI, GHSQ-V, and C-SSRS, to assess impulsivity, emotional regulation, anxious-depressive symptoms, and suicide risk. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to identify significant predictors of suicidal ideation and attempts. Model quality was assessed through ROC analysis.

For the suicidal ideation model, significant predictors included maternal responsiveness, depressive symptoms, family history of mental illness, prior hospitalization due to suicide attempts, and victimization through bullying and sexual abuse. In the suicidal attempt model, relevant factors were the absence of siblings, unplanned impulsivity, emotional interference, previous hospitalizations for mental health, suicidal ideation, and serious intent to attempt suicide. The models demonstrated adequate predictive performance with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 and 0.94, respectively.

The findings highlight the multidimensional nature of adolescent suicidal behavior, revealing the interplay between individual and contextual factors. These models contribute to understanding the phenomenon and could guide targeted preventive interventions and public policies aimed at this vulnerable group. Expanding the analysis to different regions and populations is suggested to validate and enrich the results.