Citation

Cheng ST, Chan AC. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2007; 37(2): 187-196.

Affiliation

Department of Applied Social Studies at the City University of Hong Kong in Kowloon, 2 Department of Sociology and Politics at Lingnan University in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2007.37.2.187

PMID

17521272

Abstract

Two theoretical models were constructed to illustrate how stressful events, family and friends support, depression, substance use, and death attitude mutually influence to create cumulative risks for suicide. The models were evaluated using structural equation modeling. Results showed that suicidality was strongly predicted by death attitude, depression, and substance use which together form a dangerous combination of risk factors at the personal level. Within the adolescent's social environment, stressful events increased suicidality through intensifying depression, substance use, and death acceptance, whereas family and friends support lowered it, partly through reducing stress and death acceptance. The effect (direct and indirect combined) of family support was much stronger than that of friends support. Enhancing stress coping ability, promoting positive family relationships, and attacking attitudes supportive of death might be the best strategies to prevent youth suicide.

Language: en