Suicidal Behavior among Adolescent Students in Puerto Rico, Academic Years2002-03 and 2003-04.

Suicidal Behavior Among Adolescent Students in Puerto Rico;Public Health;Health Sciences;Epidemiological Science

Rodriguez-Figueroa, LinnetteWelch, Kathleen B. ;

University of Michigan

关键词: Suicidal Behavior Among Adolescent Students in Puerto Rico;    Public Health;    Health Sciences;    Epidemiological Science;   

Others  :  https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/58466/linrodz_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

Few studies have explored suicidal behavior among Puerto Ricans.The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents, to determine if prevalences clustered spatially, and to determine the association between suicidal behaviors and socio-demographic, individual, family, peer, school, and community characteristics.This study is a secondary analysis of ;;Consulta Juvenil VI;;, a Puerto Rican-wide cross-sectional survey.The sample (n=55,227) was selected using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design, and is representative of all 7th-12th grade public school students in Puerto Rico.Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated, and correlates of their spatial patterns were explored.Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.Suicidal ideation was reported by 15.7% of the students; 12.8% reported attempts.Most students who reported ideation (75.5%) also reported attempts.Prevalences were significantly higher if female, not living with both parents, not born in the island, and with mother not high school graduate.The highest prevalences (attempts=18.0%; ideation=20.5%) clustered in the southeastern/eastern municipalities, with depression prevalence a possible explanation for the spatial clustering.Individual and family characteristics were the most important predictors for suicidal behavior with the presence of depressive symptoms, sensation seeking behaviors, and family conflict being key risk factors.The presence of depressive symptoms was associated with a seven-fold increase in the odds of suicidal behavior.Family conflict in the presence of depressive symptoms greatly augmented risk among females (those reporting conflict had three times higher odds of reporting symptoms than those who reported no conflict).Community characteristics, particularly disorganization and perceived handgun availability, were more important determinants of suicidal behavior than were peer and school characteristics. This is the first study in Puerto Rico to examine suicidal behavior and to explore its spatial patterns in an island-wide representative sample.It addresses the dearth of information about suicidal behavior among Puerto Ricans, and contributes to understanding how risk factors operate across multiple domains.Effective prevention strategies should target high risk groups in the geographic areas identified, and should address depression, particularly when expressed as part of family conflict.Future research should focus on better understanding depression in this population.