NCJ Number
175068
Journal
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 1997 Pages: 164-175
Date Published
1997
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study identifies the correlates of current suicidal ideation and past suicide attempts among 555 adolescents in a county juvenile detention center.
Abstract
Data were collected at a 36-bed secure detention facility that provides residential services to several hundred youths in the county each year. The average stay in the facility in recent years has been 17.6 days. Current suicidal ideation was assessed with four items rated for frequency of occurrence in the past week on a four-point scale. Lifetime thoughts of death and suicide were also assessed, along with lifetime suicide attempts. The assessment of psychosocial variables focused on current depression, exposure to suicide events, anger, substance use, conduct problems, borderline personality features, coping skills, major life events, loneliness, social support, self-esteem, impulsivity, parental supervision, and social desirability. Suicidal behavior among delinquent boys was generally associated with depression and decreased social connection; whereas, suicidal behavior among delinquent girls was associated with impulsivity and instability. Current ideation was most significantly associated with current depression. In multivariate analyses, past attempts were associated with suicidal ideation and ineffective coping for males, with major life events and impulsivity for females, and with not residing with at least one biological parent prior to detention for both males and females. 2 tables and 39 references