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Adolescent suicidal risk: psychological, problem solving, and environmental factors
W Fremouw1, T Callahan, J Kashden
1Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-6040.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1993
Summary
This study found that while hospitalized suicidal adolescents differed from psychiatric patients, life stress wasn't a key indicator of current suicide risk. Early assessment upon admission is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- The Clum, Patsiokas, and Luscomb (1979) model links life stress and problem-solving to suicidal behavior.
- Understanding factors differentiating suicidal adolescents is critical for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the interactional model of suicide in hospitalized adolescents.
- To identify key discriminators between suicidal adolescents, psychiatric controls, and general controls.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of three groups: suicidal adolescents, psychiatric controls, and general controls.
- Utilized psychological, problem-solving, environmental, and family measures.
- Employed discriminant analyses to identify group differences.
Main Results:
- The suicidal group was distinguishable from the psychiatric control group.
- Life stress measures did not significantly contribute to identifying current suicide risk.
- The suicidal group could not be differentiated from the general high school control group.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge the sole reliance on life stress for assessing immediate suicide risk in adolescents.
- Early assessment of suicide risk upon hospital admission is vital.
- Further research should explore other factors beyond life stress in adolescent suicide risk.