Puerto Rican adolescents, as well as other Latinos/as, have been identified at higher risk for suicidal ideation and attempts compared to other ethnic groups. However, research designed to better understand suicidality among Puerto Rican adolescents is rare. OBJECTIVE: A socio-cognitive vulnerability model of suicidal ideation was tested in adolescents living in Puerto Rico. METHOD: Multiple group path analyses were performed to assess the effect of self-reported socio-environmental and vulnerability factors on suicidal ideation, by sex, in 233 students from the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. RESULTS: Overall, the model explained a large amount of the variance in suicidal ideation (r2 = .59 for females and r2 = .48 for males). Depressive symptoms had the strongest total effect on suicidal ideation for both sexes (r = .69 for females and r = .53 for males) and negative life events were the most salient socio-environmental factor. Hopelessness had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for males only. Externalizing behaviors had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for both males and females, but it was particularly strong for females. CONCLUSION: Results support the mediating role of vulnerability factors and the differential importance of socio-environmental and vulnerability factors in understanding suicidal ideation among Puerto Rican adolescents. The relevance of exploring different developmental paths to suicidal ideation, separately by sex, is discussed.
Puerto Rican adolescents, as well as other Latinos/as, have been identified at higher risk for suicidal ideation and attempts compared to other ethnic groups. However, research designed to better understand suicidality among Puerto Rican adolescents is rare. OBJECTIVE: A socio-cognitive vulnerability model of suicidal ideation was tested in adolescents living in Puerto Rico. METHOD: Multiple group path analyses were performed to assess the effect of self-reported socio-environmental and vulnerability factors on suicidal ideation, by sex, in 233 students from the metropolitan area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. RESULTS: Overall, the model explained a large amount of the variance in suicidal ideation (r2 = .59 for females and r2 = .48 for males). Depressive symptoms had the strongest total effect on suicidal ideation for both sexes (r = .69 for females and r = .53 for males) and negative life events were the most salient socio-environmental factor. Hopelessness had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for males only. Externalizing behaviors had a direct effect on suicidal ideation for both males and females, but it was particularly strong for females. CONCLUSION: Results support the mediating role of vulnerability factors and the differential importance of socio-environmental and vulnerability factors in understanding suicidal ideation among Puerto Rican adolescents. The relevance of exploring different developmental paths to suicidal ideation, separately by sex, is discussed.
Authors: R A King; M Schwab-Stone; A J Flisher; S Greenwald; R A Kramer; S H Goodman; B B Lahey; D Shaffer; M S Gould Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Laura Kann; Steve Kinchen; Shari L Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Joseph Kawkins; William A Harris; Richard Lowry; Emily O'Malley Olsen; Tim McManus; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Eboni Taylor; Zewditu Demissie; Nancy Brener; Jemekia Thornton; John Moore; Stephanie Zaza Journal: MMWR Suppl Date: 2014-06-13
Authors: Laura Kann; Tim McManus; William A Harris; Shari L Shanklin; Katherine H Flint; Joseph Hawkins; Barbara Queen; Richard Lowry; Emily O'Malley Olsen; David Chyen; Lisa Whittle; Jemekia Thornton; Connie Lim; Yoshimi Yamakawa; Nancy Brener; Stephanie Zaza Journal: MMWR Surveill Summ Date: 2016-06-10
Authors: Yovanska Duarté-Vélez; Judelysse Gomez; Gisela Jiménez Colón; Anthony Spirito Journal: Evid Based Pract Child Adolesc Ment Health Date: 2018-03-27