Developmental differences in risk factors for suicide attempts between ninth and eleventh graders

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2006 Apr;36(2):154-66. doi: 10.1521/suli.2006.36.2.154.

Abstract

In order to identify differences in risk factors for suicide attempts throughout adolescence, this study utilized a school-based survey of ninth (n = 1,192) and eleventh graders (N = 1,055). Suicide attempts were associated with cigarette and alcohol use, family violence, and depression for ninth graders and with illicit drug use, school violence, and sexual abuse for eleventh graders, while having friends was protective for both groups. Additionally, having more than one risk factor imparted an exponential risk for suicide attempts (ninth > eleventh graders). The differences detected are consistent with developmental changes of adolescence and represent important information for identification of at-risk youth.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Catchment Area, Health
  • Child
  • Child Development*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Male
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs