Citation

Houck CD, Hadley W, Lescano CM, Pugatch D, Brown LK, Group PS. Arch. Suicide Res. 2008; 12(1): 39-49.

Affiliation

Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center and Brown Medical School.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110701800715

PMID

18240033

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between a history of suicide attempt and a range of current sexual risk behaviors in a large sample of sexually high-risk adolescents. Baseline data from 1,245 sexually active 15 to 21 year olds were collected as part of a multi-site, randomized trial of a brief HIV prevention program. Measures were collected using audio computer assisted self-interviews. Accounting for demographic, contextual, and substance use variables, a lifetime history of suicide attempt significantly added to multivariate regression models predicting sexual risk. Inconsistent condom users were almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide, and adolescents with an STI diagnosis were approximately twice as likely to have a history of suicide attempt. A history of suicidal behavior can be identified by clinicians and appears to be an important marker for sexual risk, which may represent an expression of emotional distress or a passive form of self-injury for suicidal adolescents.

Language: en