179673 Individual and Family Characteristics Associated with Suicidal Behavior among Adolescent Students in Puerto Rico, Academic Years 2002-03 and 2003-04

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Linnette Rodriguez-Figueroa, PhD , University of Michigan School of Public Health and University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Siobán D. Harlow, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
MaryFran R. Sowers, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Margarita R. Moscoso, PhD , Proyecto Consulta Juvenil, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR
Kathleen B. Welch, MPH, MS , Cscar, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Brisa N. Sanchez, PhD , Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Suicidal ideation and attempts are difficult to predict. Several risk and protective factors among adolescents have been identified yet few studies have explored suicidal behavior among Puerto Ricans. The objective of this study was to assess the association between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts with individual characteristics and behaviors of the adolescent, and characteristics of the adolescents' family and their family relationships. This study is a secondary analysis of the "Consulta Juvenil VI" survey, a Puerto Rican-wide bi-annual cross-sectional survey among children and adolescents. 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. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the strength of the association between each suicidal behavior and individual and family variables. The individual characteristic most strongly associated with suicidal behavior of students was the presence of depressive symptoms, particularly among females. Sensation seeking behaviors were also important predictors, particularly among males. The most important family characteristic was the presence of family conflict. Among females, students who reported family conflict were three times more likely to report depressive symptoms than those who did not report family conflict. Individual and family characteristics are important predictors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents. Results of this study have profound implications for current and future suicide prevention programs in the island, pointing to the need for increased focus in addressing depression in adolescents, particularly when expressed as part of family conflict. Supported by the PR Mental Health Services and Drug Addiction Administration, and the PR Office of Drug Control.

Learning Objectives:
1. To identify individual risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescent students. 2. To identify family risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescent students. 3. To understand how the magnitude of risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescent students differ by gender. 4. To apply the results and conclusions of this study to improve current and future suicide prevention programs in the island.

Keywords: Suicide, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I designed the study, performed all analyses of the data, and wrote the paper.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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