Risk factors for suicidality among a nationally representative sample of high school students

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2009 Jun;39(3):241-51. doi: 10.1521/suli.2009.39.3.241.

Abstract

Using the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data (n = 13,917) of high school students, we examined the association between four domains of risk factors (alcohol/drug use, aggression, HIV risk-related behaviors, and health problems) and indicators of suicidality (considering a suicide attempt, making a plan to attempt suicide, and actually attempting suicide). Logistic regressions showed that drug use (e.g., recent smoking, drinking before 13), victimization (e.g., threatened at school, hit by girl/boyfriend), risky sexual behavior (e.g., forced to have sex, used a condom) and two health problems (health as fair/poor, has disability/health problem) were associated with all three indicators of suicidality. These findings suggest that programs to prevent alcohol/drug use, address aggression, promote safety, and prevent unsafe sexual practices may also prevent suicidality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / prevention & control
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States
  • Unsafe Sex*

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs