Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents: An Ecological-Relational Study

Psicothema. 2024 Feb;36(4):389-402. doi: 10.7334/psicothema2023.258.

Abstract

Background: The present study analyzes factors of adolescents' ecological-relational contexts in relation to suicidal behavior. In particular, it examined the role of peer bullying and cyberbullying, classroom climate, violence and partner victimization, parental socialization styles, and child-to-parent violence.

Method: The participants are 2,977 Spanish adolescents attending seven secondary schools. They were aged 11-17 (M = 14.0, SD = 1.40; 51.5% girls). Multivariate logistic regression analyses and a two-step cluster analysis were applied to analyze the data.

Results: Findings showed a prevalence of suicidal thoughts in 43.3% of the sample, with 7.7% reporting suicide attempts. Adolescents experiencing high/low victimization (ORa = 3.10, p < .001) and high cybervictimization (ORa = 1.67, p < .001) were at risk. However, high cyberbullying involvement (ORa = 0.55, p < .001) and not having a partner (ORa = 0.61, p < .001) emerged as protective factors. Sex-specific analyses underscored distinct interaction effects, with suicidal behavior in girls being significantly related to maternal negative socialization (ORa = 1.57, p = .05).

Conclusions: An ecological-relational and sex approach is needed to understand and prevent suicidal behavior in adolescents.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology
  • Bullying* / psychology
  • Bullying* / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
  • Cyberbullying / psychology
  • Cyberbullying / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Socialization
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted* / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted* / statistics & numerical data
  • Violence / psychology
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data