Abstract
OBJECTIVES. We sought to analyze the frequency and correlates of suicidal behaviors in a community sample of adolescents. METHODS. Information concerning suicidal thoughts and acts, aggressive behaviors, substance use and physical recklessness were collected with the 70-item self-report Youth Risk Behavior Survey from a statewide sample of 3764 South Carolina public high school students. RESULTS. Seventy-five percent of students reported no suicidal behaviors, 11% reported serious suicidal thoughts, 6.4% reported specific suicidal plans, 5.9% reported attempts not requiring medical care, and 1.6% reported attempts requiring medical care. All types of suicidal behaviors occurred more frequently in females than males. Odds ratios for aggressive behaviors and cigarette use were elevated across all categories of suicide behaviors, increasing in magnitude with severity of reported suicidal behavior. Substance use was associated with some but not all categories of suicidal behaviors. The relationships were most pronounced with the use of potentially more dangerous drugs. CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that suicidal behaviors are not infrequent occurrences among adolescents and that they often coexist with other high-risk behaviors. Interventions designed to reduce suicidal behaviors should simultaneously address coexisting high-risk behaviors.
Full text
PDF





Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Alessi N. E., McManus M., Brickman A., Grapentine L. Suicidal behavior among serious juvenile offenders. Am J Psychiatry. 1984 Feb;141(2):286–287. doi: 10.1176/ajp.141.2.286. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Berman A. L., Schwartz R. H. Suicide attempts among adolescent drug users. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Mar;144(3):310–314. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150270060026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brent D. A., Perper J. A., Goldstein C. E., Kolko D. J., Allan M. J., Allman C. J., Zelenak J. P. Risk factors for adolescent suicide. A comparison of adolescent suicide victims with suicidal inpatients. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988 Jun;45(6):581–588. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800300079011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown J. D., Lawton M. Stress and well-being in adolescence: the moderating role of physical exercise. J Human Stress. 1986 Fall;12(3):125–131. doi: 10.1080/0097840X.1986.9936777. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Brown L. K., Overholser J., Spirito A., Fritz G. K. The correlates of planning in adolescent suicide attempts. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1991 Jan;30(1):95–99. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199101000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chiles J. A., Miller M. L., Cox G. B. Depression in an adolescent delinquent population. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1980 Oct;37(10):1179–1184. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1980.01780230097015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark D. C., Sommerfeldt L., Schwarz M., Hedeker D., Watel L. Physical recklessness in adolescence. Trait or byproduct of depressive/suicidal states? J Nerv Ment Dis. 1990 Jul;178(7):423–433. doi: 10.1097/00005053-199007000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Crumley F. E. Substance abuse and adolescent suicidal behavior. JAMA. 1990 Jun 13;263(22):3051–3056. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Flaherty M. G. The national incidence of juvenile suicide in adult jails and juvenile detention centers. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1983 Summer;13(2):85–94. doi: 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1983.tb00007.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fowler R. C., Rich C. L., Young D. San Diego Suicide Study. II. Substance abuse in young cases. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1986 Oct;43(10):962–965. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1986.01800100056008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garrison C. Z., Addy C. L., Jackson K. L., McKeown R. E., Waller J. L. A longitudinal study of suicidal ideation in young adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1991 Jul;30(4):597–603. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199107000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garrison C. Z., Jackson K. L., Addy C. L., McKeown R. E., Waller J. L. Suicidal behaviors in young adolescents. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 May 15;133(10):1005–1014. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115809. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garrison C. Z., Lewinsohn P. M., Marsteller F., Langhinrichsen J., Lann I. The assessment of suicidal behavior in adolescents. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1991 Fall;21(3):217–230. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garrison C. Z. The study of suicidal behavior in the schools. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1989 Spring;19(1):120–130. doi: 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1989.tb00371.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Harkavy Friedman J. M., Asnis G. M., Boeck M., DiFiore J. Prevalence of specific suicidal behaviors in a high school sample. Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Sep;144(9):1203–1206. doi: 10.1176/ajp.144.9.1203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Joffe R. T., Offord D. R., Boyle M. H. Ontario Child Health Study: suicidal behavior in youth age 12-16 years. Am J Psychiatry. 1988 Nov;145(11):1420–1423. doi: 10.1176/ajp.145.11.1420. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kashani J. H., Goddard P., Reid J. C. Correlates of suicidal ideation in a community sample of children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1989 Nov;28(6):912–917. doi: 10.1097/00004583-198911000-00016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Levy J. C., Deykin E. Y. Suicidality, depression, and substance abuse in adolescence. Am J Psychiatry. 1989 Nov;146(11):1462–1467. doi: 10.1176/ajp.146.11.1462. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mościcki E. K., O'Carroll P., Rae D. S., Locke B. Z., Roy A., Regier D. A. Suicide attempts in the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Yale J Biol Med. 1988 May-Jun;61(3):259–268. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pfeffer C. R., Zuckerman S., Plutchik R., Mizruchi M. S. Suicidal behavior in normal school children: a comparison with child psychiatric inpatients. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1984 Jul;23(4):416–423. doi: 10.1016/s0002-7138(09)60319-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ross C. E., Hayes D. Exercise and psychologic well-being in the community. Am J Epidemiol. 1988 Apr;127(4):762–771. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114857. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shaffer D., Fisher P. The epidemiology of suicide in children and young adolescents. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1981 Summer;20(3):545–565. doi: 10.1016/s0002-7138(09)61644-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shaffer D., Garland A., Gould M., Fisher P., Trautman P. Preventing teenage suicide: a critical review. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1988 Nov;27(6):675–687. doi: 10.1097/00004583-198811000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Shaffer D. Suicide in childhood and early adolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1974 Oct;15(4):275–291. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1974.tb01252.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith K., Crawford S. Suicidal behavior among "normal" high school students. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1986 Fall;16(3):313–325. doi: 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1986.tb01013.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Velez C. N., Cohen P. Suicidal behavior and ideation in a community sample of children: maternal and youth reports. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1988 May;27(3):349–356. doi: 10.1097/00004583-198805000-00014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- de Coverley Veale D. M. Exercise and mental health. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1987 Aug;76(2):113–120. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1987.tb02872.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]