Domains of Chronic Stress and Suicidal Behaviors Among Inpatient Adolescents

Abstract

Little is known about the role of chronic stress in youth suicidal behaviors. This study examined the relations between specific domains of chronic stress and suicidal behaviors among 131 inpatient youth (M age = 15.02 years) who completed measures of stress, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide intent. After controlling for demographics, diagnostic status, past history of attempt, and life event stress, the predictors of suicidal ideation were chronic stress in family relationships, close friendship, and physical health. Chronic close friendship stress also predicted suicide intent among attempters after controlling for covariates. No domain robustly predicted the presence of an attempt or moderated the relation between life event stress and suicidal behaviors. These findings highlight the role of certain domains of chronic stress in suicidal ideation and suicide intent.

Notes

Note: Data in second column are presented as mean (SD) for continuous variables, n (%) for categorical variables. T statistics are presented for categorical-continuous associations, Pearson r for continuous-continuous associations, and chi-square values for categorical-categorical associations. For Attempt and Diagnosis, 0 = Absent and 1 = Present. N = 131.

^a n = 55.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

†Association remained significant after controlling for covariates.

Note: Data are presented as mean (SD) for continuous variables, n (%) for categorical variables. n = 55.