Related Experiment Videos
Separation/divorce and child and adolescent completed suicide
M S Gould1, D Shaffer, P Fisher
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. gouldm@child.cpmc.columbia.edu
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 25, 1998
Summary
Parental psychopathology and father-child relationships significantly influence youth suicide risk following separation or divorce. These factors, rather than divorce itself, appear to be key determinants in adolescent mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rising rates of youth suicide necessitate understanding contributing factors.
- The impact of family separation and divorce on adolescent mental health is a significant public health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how separation/divorce affects youth suicide.
- To identify potential modifying factors in the relationship between separation/divorce and youth suicide.
Main Methods:
- A case-control psychological autopsy study was conducted.
- 120 youth suicides (under 20) and 147 matched community controls were analyzed.
- Factors such as age at separation, parental remarriage, parent-child relationships, and parental psychopathology were assessed.
Main Results:
- The impact of separation/divorce on youth suicide was diminished when parental psychopathology was considered.
- An interaction between separation/divorce and the father-child relationship was observed, suggesting a complex interplay of factors.
Conclusions:
- The increasing rates of youth suicide are unlikely to be solely explained by rising divorce rates.
- Parental psychopathology and the quality of the father-child relationship are critical considerations in understanding youth suicide risk in the context of family separation.