Citation

Yoder KA, Whitbeck LB, Hoyt DR. Soc. Indicators Res. 2008; 86(1): 83-100.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11205-007-9095-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study used data from a sample of 444 homeless adolescents to determine whether thoughts of death and suicide form one construct (unidimensionality) or two distinct but correlated constructs (multi-dimensionality). Thoughts of death and suicide were common in the sample; over two-thirds of the adolescents positively endorsed at least one of the eight death- or suicide-related items. Evidence regarding dimensionality was mixed. Exploratory factor analysis results and similarity coefficients supported one construct; confirmatory factor analysis and external consistency results provided evidence for two constructs. The results were reconciled by considering suicidality as a continuum from thoughts of death to suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicide. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; adolescence; Suicidal ideation; factor analysis; homelessness; Dimensionality; Homeless adolescents; Thoughts of death