Citation

Potter LB, Kresnow MJ, Powell KE, Simon TR, Mercy JA, Lee RK, Frankowski RF, Swann AC, Bayer T, O'Carroll PW. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2001; 32(1 Suppl): 42-48.

Affiliation

Education Development Center in Newton, MA 02458, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11924694

Abstract

Teenagers and young adults are very mobile and mobility has been identified as a potential risk factor for suicidal behavior. We conducted a population-based, case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempts with 153 cases and 513 controls. Study participants were asked about changing residence over the past 12 months. Results indicate that moving in the past 12 months is positively associated with a nearly lethal suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio of 2.1, with 95% confidence interval of 1.4-3.3), as are specific characteristics of the move (e.g., frequency, recency, distance, and difficulty staying in touch). These findings confirm and extend prior ecologic research by demonstrating a relationship, at the individual level, between the geographic mobility of adolescents and young adults and nearly lethal suicide attempts.