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Published on: July 10, 2017
A Socioecological Approach to Adolescent Suicide Risk: The Roles of Social Bonds and Recognition
1Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Purpose:
Research on adolescents' suicide risk has mainly focused on individual/interpersonal risk. Relational protective factors (e.g. connectives and recognition for prosocial behavior) need more attention. Guided by a socioecological framework, we hypothesized that stronger social bonds and recognition are associated with lower suicide risk, directly and indirectly through associations with lower individual/interpersonal risk.
Methods:
Using the 2023 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (190,151 students), suicide risk was measured by four dichotomous variables: suicidal ideation, plan, attempt, and injury by attempt. Individual and interpersonal risk factors included substance use, depression, and bullying victimization. Relational protective factors included social bonds and recognition across family, school, and community domains. Rurality and demographic covariates were included. Generalized structural equation modeling estimated direct and indirect pathways.
Results:
Most common suicide risk was suicidal ideation (16%), followed by plan (13%), attempt (5%), and injury by attempt (1%). While substance use, depression, bullying victimization, and rurality were associated with higher suicide risk, stronger social bonds and recognition were directly and indirectly associated with lower risk. Among social bonds, family attachment had the largest direct association. School commitment showed the largest indirect association through lower individual/interpersonal risk. Among social recognition, community domains had the largest direct association. Family recognition had the largest indirect association via social bonds and lower risk factors.
Discussion:
Social bonds and recognition across family, school, and community domains are key relational protective factors for adolescent suicide risk through interconnected pathways. Prevention efforts require coordinated, multisector collaboration to build supportive relational environments, with attention to rural adolescents.
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