Suicidality in a Community Sample of Early Adolescents: A Three-Phase Follow-Up Study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to collect data on suicidal ideation and suicidal risk prevalence in a three-phase epidemiological study. In the first phase, 1,514 participants (720 boys; mean-age = 10.2) filled out the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and other psychopathological tests. 562 individuals (mean-age = 11.3) were selected to participate in the second phase as at-risk individuals of emotional disorders or as controls, and the CDI and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (M.I.N.I.-Kid) were administered. In the third phase the participants (245; mean-age = 13.5) filled out the Youth’s Inventory-4. The results of the CDI indicated that 15.9% of the participants showed suicidal ideation in the first phase, and 18.2% and 18.0% in the second and third phases, respectively. 33.0% of the participants persisted at 1 year of follow-up with suicidal ideation. The M.I.N.I.-Kid showed 12.2% past suicidal risk and a current risk of 2.4%. The current suicidal risk was mainly related to depressive disorders (OR 30.3). Predictors of current suicidal risk for boys included having previous depressive symptoms. For girls predictors included having previous anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, suicidal ideation and lower socioeconomic status. Spanish early adolescents had relevant rates of suicidal behavior; thus, it is important to create and apply prevention programs that consider the risk factors.

Keywords:

• adolescence
• emotional symptoms
• risk factors
• suicidal ideation
• suicidality

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” [PI07/0839], Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption. This work has been partially funded and is part of the activities carried out by the PROEM Network «Promoción de la salud mental y el bienestar emocional en adolescentes», of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [PSI2017- 90650-REDT].

Notes on contributors

Núria Voltas

Núria Voltas, Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.

Carmen Hernández-Martínez

Carmen Hernández-Martínez, Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.

Victoria Arija

Victoria Arija, Nutrition and Public Health Unit, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain; Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.

Josefa Canals

Josefa Canals, Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Department of Psychology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.