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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
[Family factors in adolescent suicide attempts]
J C Gonzalez-Seijo1, Y M Ramos Vicente, I Lastra Martinez
1Unidad de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, Universidad Complutense, Madrid.
Adolescent suicide attempts are significantly linked to family issues, including parental loss and mental illness within the family. These familial risk factors are crucial for developing effective prevention strategies for at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Family Studies
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Adolescent suicide attempts represent a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the familial context is critical for identifying at-risk individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze family characteristics associated with suicide attempts in adolescents.
- To identify specific familial risk factors contributing to adolescent suicidal behavior.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 54 adolescents (suicide attempters) and 108 controls (matched by age, sex, socioeconomic status).
- Analysis of family characteristics using Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.
Main Results:
- Significant associations found with parental losses (OR=19.00), parental mental illness (Father OR=8.67, Mother OR=6.79), sibling mental illness (OR=3.28), poor family relations (OR=3.00), not living with both parents (OR=8.06), and poor familial adaptation (OR=7.50).
Conclusions:
- Family characteristics are critical risk factors for adolescent suicide attempts.
- Findings underscore the importance of family environment in adolescent mental health.
- Results can inform the development of targeted preventive programs for at-risk adolescents.
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