The Exploration of Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts among Adolescents

• Main Authors: Yang -Chen Cheng, 鄭仰辰
• Other Authors: 陳秋瑩
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/36521814362754831612

碩士 === 中國醫藥大學 === 環境醫學研究所碩士班 === 96 === Abstract Objectives: The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the one-year prevalence rates of suicide attempts and to identify risk factors associated with suicide attempts among adolescents. Methods: We used stratified cluster sampling method to recruit a sample of 6245 students aged 11-18 years in Taichung city and county. Using self-reported questionnaires, we collected information on the behavior of suicide attempts and its correlates including socio-demographic factors, individual psychological factors such as self-esteem and impulsivity, family and social dynamic factors such as the perceptions of family and teacher support, family violence, and peer deviance, health-risk behaviors, and victimization. Data analysis measured the prevalences of suicide attempts by various factors. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Results: Overall, 5.2% of the students reported of having suicide attempts. The results of the multiple logistic regression models showed that girls were more likely to have suicide attempts than boys (OR=3.60). Family support had a protective effect (OR=0.91). The other significant factors associated with suicide attempts were having others experiencd physical violence (OR= 2.53) and having witnessed violence (OR=1.59), having experienced accident (OR= 2.63), having experienced and witnessed sexual harassment or violence (OR= 3.71 and 2.84, respectively) , and drinking behavior (OR=1.51). However, we found slight but significant protective effect for adolescents with higher family suporrt (OR=0.91). Conclusions: Girls were at highr risk than boys for adolescent suicide attempts. Elevated risk of suicide attempts were also associated with abnormal psychological factors, family support, substance use, and being direct and witnessing victims of physical violence and sexual harassment/violence. This study suggests that prevention programs should expand the approaches from individuals to multi-level interventions, focusing on increasing the cohesion in families, schools and society as a whole. Key words: Adolescent, Suicide attempt, Family support, Victimization, Health-risk behavior