NCJ Number
213843
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 209-224
Date Published
April 2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the predictive value of family relationships, school support, and peer support, as well as the mediating influences of self-esteem and depression, for Hong Kong Chinese adolescents’ suicidal ideation.
Abstract
Overall, the findings indicated that family cohesion, family conflicts, teacher support, and peer support significantly predicted self-esteem and depression in Chinese adolescents, with depression being a strong mediator of suicidal ideation. The results thus suggest that when Chinese adolescents perceive low family cohesion and high family conflict, they are at greater risk for developing symptoms of depression, which can in turn lead to suicidal ideation. As such, relationships in depressed adolescents’ family, school, and peer groups should be strengthened to prevent the development of suicidal ideation. Participants were 433 junior and senior students from 6 secondary schools in Hong Kong who were recruited through their schools. Participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring family relationships, school support, peer support, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Data analysis was completed using bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses. Future studies should consider exploring other types of school and peer factors as well as gender and age group differences in the prediction of suicidal ideation. Tables, figures, appendix, references