TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - Depressive symptom severity mediates the association between avoidant problem-solving style and suicidal ideation JO - Journal of affective disorders A1 - López, Roberto A1 - Brick, Leslie Ann A1 - Defayette, Annamarie B. A1 - Whitmyre, Emma D. A1 - Wolff, Jennifer A1 - Frazier, Elisabeth A1 - Spirito, Anthony A1 - Esposito-Smythers, Christianne SP - 662 EP - 670 VL - 274 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: The contemporaneous association between avoidant style, a maladaptive social problem-solving strategy, and adolescent suicidal ideation has been well established. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. Using cross-lagged panel modeling, the present study examined whether depressive symptom severity mediates the relation between avoidant style and severity of suicidal ideation. The specificity of depressive symptom severity as a mediator was also evaluated by simultaneously testing whether avoidant style mediates the association between depressive symptom and suicidal ideation severity. METHODS: The sample included 110 adolescents enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical effectiveness trial. Avoidant style as well as depressive symptom and suicidal ideation severity were assessed via self-report with the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised, Children's Depression Scale-2, and Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior, respectively, at baseline, 3-and 6-months. RESULTS: After accounting for participant age, sex, and treatment condition, path analyses supported the specificity of 3-month depressive symptom severity as a mediator of the association between baseline levels of avoidant style and 6-month suicidal ideation severity. LIMITATIONS: Results may not be generalizable to non-clinical samples. Causality cannot be inferred from study results. Data were exclusively collected via self-report. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that avoidant style is indirectly related to suicidal ideation through depressive symptom severity. Thus, treatment targeted at improving social problem-solving skills, particularly avoidant style, may help reduce depressive symptoms and lower suicide risk.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0165-0327 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.120 ID - ref1 ER -