TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1995//
TI  - Self-esteem deficits and suicidal tendencies among adolescents
JO  - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
A1  - Overholser, J. C.
A1  - Adams, D. M.
A1  - Lehnert, K. L.
A1  - Brinkman, D. C.
SP  - 919
EP  - 928
VL  - 34
IS  - 7
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Self-esteem can play an important role in suicidal tendencies among adolescents. The present study was designed to examine the relationship between self-esteem deficits and suicidal tendencies in 254 adolescent psychiatric inpatients and 288 high school students. METHOD: The direct relationship between self-esteem and suicidal tendencies was examined by assessing suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempts. An indirect relationship between self-esteem and suicidality was examined by assessing depression and hopelessness. RESULTS: Differences were found across gender and hospitalization status, with males reporting higher self-esteem than females and high school students scoring higher in self-esteem than psychiatric inpatients. However, correlations among variables remained similar across gender and hospitalization status. Thus, low self-esteem was related to higher levels of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and an increased likelihood of having previously attempted suicide. Furthermore, self-esteem added to the understanding of suicidal ideation beyond what could be explained by depression and hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS: Low self-esteem was closely related to feelings of depression, hopelessness, and suicidal tendencies. Assessment of adolescents should include an evaluation of self-esteem, and therapy should attempt to address any self-esteem deficits.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0890-8567
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -