Citation

Thompson EA, Mazza JJ, Herting JR, Randell BP, Eggert LL. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2005; 35(1): 14-34.

Affiliation

Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. elainet@u.washington.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.35.1.14.59266

PMID

15843321

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness as mediators between known risk factors and suicidal behaviors among 1,287 potential high school dropouts. As a step toward theory development, a model was tested that posited the relationships among these variables and their effects on suicidal behaviors. Structural equation models, estimated separately by gender, revealed support for the model, and substantial similarities between males and females. The results showed direct effects of depression and hopelessness on suicidal behaviors for males, and direct effects of hopelessness, but not depression, for females. For both males and females, anxiety was directly linked to depression and hopelessness; drug involvement had both direct and indirect effects on suicidal behavior. As hypothesized, lack of family support showed indirect influences on suicidal behaviors through anxiety for both males and females. The results have important implications for future model development regarding adolescent suicidal behaviors.

Language: en