Original article
Prospective Associations between Delinquency and Suicidal Behaviors in a Nationally Representative Sample

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.10.016Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

We examined the prospective associations between delinquency and suicidal behaviors among adolescents using a nationally representative sample.

Methods

The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was used to assess the prospective associations between delinquency at ages 12–17 years and suicidal behaviors (ideation, attempts, treatment for attempts) 1 and 7 years later.

Results

Controlling for demographic variables, delinquency was prospectively associated with an increased risk for all three suicidal behaviors 1 year later, and to ideations and attempts 7 years later. After controlling for other risk factors (i.e., depression, self-esteem, problem drinking, impulsivity, religiosity), delinquency was still significantly related to an increased likelihood for suicidal ideation 1 and 7 years later, and to suicide attempts 1 year later. Further, delinquency was significantly related to suicidal ideation for girls more than for boys.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that delinquent youth, particularly delinquent girls, should be targeted in interventions to reduce suicidal behaviors.

Section snippets

Sample

Data from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health (Add Health) were used to test the study hypotheses. Add Health is a longitudinal survey of adolescents who were in grades 7–12 at baseline. The study was funded primarily by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and conducted by the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The purpose of Add Health is to investigate factors that influence adolescents’ health and

Results

Results from the bivariate analyses indicated that delinquency was prospectively associated with all three suicidal behaviors 1 year later (Wave 2). Specifically, delinquent youth were significantly more likely than their counterparts to have seriously considered suicide (crude odds ratio [COR] 1.71, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.46–1.99), attempted suicide (COR 2.00, 95% CI 1.45–2.75), and required medical treatment after an attempt (COR 2.02, 95% CI 1.02–4.00) 1 year later. Delinquency

Discussion

Data from a nationally representative sample indicated that delinquent behavior at ages 12–17 years was prospectively associated with suicidal behavior 1 and 7 years later. Specifically, after controlling for demographic variables (age, race, gender, metropolitan status), delinquency was prospectively associated with an increased risk for seriously considering suicide, making a suicide attempt, and requiring medical treatment after an attempt 1 year later, and with an increased risk for

References (33)

  • A. Battle et al.

    Potential for suicide and aggression in delinquents at juvenile court in a southern city

    Suicide Life Threat Behav

    (1993)
  • D.K. Eaton et al.

    Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2005

    MMWR Surveill Summ

    (2006)
  • D.A. Cole

    Psychopathology of adolescent suicide: hopelessness, coping beliefs, and depression

    J Abnorm Psychol

    (1989)
  • S.K. Goldsmith et al.

    Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative

    (2002)
  • R.A. King et al.

    Psychosocial and risk behavior correlates of youth suicide attempts and suicidal ideation

    J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

    (2002)
  • P.M. Lewinsohn et al.

    Psychosocial risk factors for future adolescent suicide attempts

    J Consult Clin Psychol

    (1994)
  • Cited by (98)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text