This study examined the relationship between psychological birth order and substance abuse and suicide in adolescents. It was hypothesized that adolescents operating from a perceived inferior position as measured by the Psychological Birth Order Instrument would be more likely to abuse substances and/or engage in self-destructive behavior. Ninety-five adolescents from Southern Arizona volunteered to participate in this study. The forty-eight treatment subjects were current in-patients at a psychiatric hospital. The control group consisted of forty-seven high school students. The results indicated that there was a difference in perceptions between adolescents in treatment versus those not in treatment for substance abuse and/or suicide. There was a significant relationship at the.005 level and it was concluded that adolescents operating from a perceived inferior position are more likely to abuse substances and/or attempt suicide.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, 1991. / This study examines factors associated with attempted suicide during adolescence. The sample consists of 10 Black adolescent girls who atempted suicide in the past year, and were admitted to Baragwanath Hospital. Each subject was questioned on demographic information and completed the Separation Anxiety Test (Hansburg, 1972) and Section 1 of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden and Greenberg, 1987), which assesses attachment to a parent. Subjects were also required to answer questions on their choice of responses. Common trends were found to exist among adolescent girls who attempt suicide. Adolescent girls who attempt suicide have disruptive home environments where parents experience marital problems. They show a low degree of attachment, high degree of hostility, stress avoidance during the stage of identity crisis, and they maintain a poor attachment-individuation balance. These findings suggest that the most common treatment strategy, ie. crisis intervention is not sufficient as it does not deal with underlying problems of adolescent suicide.

Depressed mood is one of the most common of all psychiatric symptoms occurring in children and adolescents. Population studies suggest a point prevalence of between 10 to 15% of children and adolescents having symptoms of depression. Further, depressed adolescents are also significantly more apt to demonstrate suicidal ideation accompanied by a concomitant sense of helplessness and hopelessness. The overall aim of the study was to identify and characterize profiles of depression and suicidal behavior within the adolescents of the USA in the past 10 years. This study utilized epidemiological, cross-sectional, data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), a biennial census that monitors six types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth. Latent classes of the indicators were generated utilizing latent class regression modeling. Predictors were then regressed on class membership in a multinomial logistic regression simultaneously to assess significance. Finally, a juxtaposition of the profiles and significant predictors followed to allow for observation of differences in number of profiles and other qualities (i.e., proportions of sample in each class, etc.) as well as to visualize and note “carryover” predictors across the past 10 years. Findings revealed a relatively stable pattern of profiles and predictors over the years with the exception of 2015. In the analysis of demographic variables, membership of the “low- risk non-depressed” class was consistently or more frequently associated with being male, older, not of an ethnic minority, and non-ethnically bi-or multiracial, across all time points. Three clusters of behaviors and factors emerged as significant predictors of depressed mood and suicidality. The first cluster consisted of typical adolescent risk behaviors that includes delinquent behaviors (i.e., fight, weapon carrying, or use of over-the-counter drugs), smoking, alcohol use, as well as consensual (non-violent) sexual activity. The second cluster of predictors that was significant consisted of experiences of traumatic events such as bullying, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence. Finally, a third cluster that showed significance consisted of self destructive behavior such as the use of illicit or hard drugs and maladaptive dieting, restricting or purging behavior. Several protective factors such as having sufficient physical activity and getting at least 8 hours of sleep daily also emerged as significant. Limitations to the YRBS and this study were discussed, and recommendations that tie to the implications of the findings were proposed. Future directions for research were also presented in light of the limitations of the study.

There has been an epidemic rate of increase in youth suicide since 1960. Professionals, teachers, counselors and parents want to identify youth at risk of suicide and intervene prior to an attempt or a suicide. The premise of this study is that youth who display similar risk factors as past attempters and completers may be at risk of attempting themselves and can be identified by these risk factors. This is a quantitative and descriptive study of youth suicide attempters and completers in the state of Oregon in 1989 and 1990 in an effort to further identify risk factors of youth suicide attempters and completers. The researcher petitioned the Oregon Center for Health Statistics and obtained databases of 1150 youth attempters and 40 suicide completers. The attempter database was compiled from a legislatively mandated informational form filled out in public and private hospital emergency rooms for anyone under 18 sustaining injuries due to a suicide attempt. The second database is compiled from death certificates for youth under 18, specifying suicide as the cause of death. Data, both in the number of cases, and in the depth of the material is sparse on suicide completers. The first question employed both databases to examine the demographic similarities and differences between youth suicide attempters and completers in Oregon in 1989 and 1990. The second and third research questions are answered using the attempter data base. The second question is an in depth examination of 18 social, psychological and behavioral factors taken from the attempter database, resulting in a description of the youth who have previously attempted in Oregon in 1989 and 1990. The third research question again studies the same 18 social psychological and behavioral factors of the attempter population, dividing it into subgroups of sex, race, and age. Through crosstabulation and the chi-square tests of statistical significance, each group was specifically described. A fourth research question called for a qualitative focus group of professional suicidologists who confirmed the findings by comparing them to their own practical experience.

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, School of Nursing, 2001. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 86-89.

M.Ed. / The increase in suicides and suicide attempts by adolescents makes it essential that the subject be looked into intensively as to why these increases occur and how the problem can be identified and prevented. The suicide problem can be traced back to the disintegration of inter-personal communication, either in the family, peergroup or society. In consequence it is apparent that parents, teachers and the community should listen more intensively, actively and with empathy to the problem. The problem is that the "distress call" is sometimes ignored. On account of these different "calls for help" not being heard, it is clear why the futile "why" questions are asked afterwards by the people left behind' after a suicide has been committed, and when it is too late to prevent. Since the problem of suicide and suicide attempts affect our society in so many sectors, the data regarding this phenomenon has been obtained from several sources. The method used in obtaining the necessary information is binary of nature. On the one hand it consists of an intensive literature study of the subject and on the other hand an empirical investigation through questioning as technique. As per De Groot (1961: 29) the present investigation may be described as explorative research, but in terms of Helmstadter's theory (1970: 31-32), as implemented, it is library-scouting and field research. The literature study covers the occurrence of suicide and suicide attempts within the society with special emphasis on the adolescent. The study also covers the causes thereof and how suicide and suicide attempts are embedded in society, taking into account the adolescent's relationship with parents, siblings (family), schools, the peergroup, the community and the society at large. This report is an attempt to view the problem of suicide and suicide attempts of adolescents from a sociopedagogical perspective. The empirical component of the research includes, firstly interviews with concerned parties of actual suicide cases and secondly the studying of police and hospital documents and files of actual suicide cases and suicide attempts. As a result of this research the following emerged: in the case of the majority of adolescents who commit suicide three dominating feelings are present, namely uselessness, despair and depression. Linked with these three dominating feelings the lack of communication is a major problem that faces the suicidal adolescent. Persons with suicidal tendencies are of a negative nature towards themselves and others and non-committal to life in general, resulting in disturbed relations with fellow man. It is necessary that pedagogical assistance and guidance must be intensive, active and empathetic : "Suicide prevention in adolescence is probably best served by general care, tenderness, understanding and support for all unhappy adolescents, rather than searching for suicide specific predictor traits All unhappy adolescents should arise within us the fear of possible self initiated death". (Davis, 1983: 55.)

The present study attempted to identify demographic and psychological variables predictive of adolescent suicidal ideations and attempts. Data from 90 adolescents, who completed an intake form at a university community mental health clinic or were student volunteers, were utilized. Two judges tabulated information regarding age, gender, number of siblings, ethnicity, parental marital status, drug use, depression, suicidal ideation, and previous suicidal attempts. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify which variables had predictive significance. Depression was the best predictor of both suicidal ideations and attempts. Ethnicity was also predictive; white adolescents were found to be at higher risk for suicide than individuals from other ethnic groups. It is suggested that additional studies be done exploring other predictors of suicide among adolescents.

In South Africa, suicidal behaviour in the younger generations has become rapidly part of a major public health problem. It is a well-known fact that adolescence is a critical period of progression in a teenager’s development which makes them more susceptible and vulnerable to suicide. Statistics have shown that there has been an increase in suicide among adolescents within the last decade (Schlebusch, 2005). The main aim of this research study is to explore the perceptions of adolescents regarding the factors that contribute to adolescent suicide. This study reviews literature concerning various risks factors for adolescent suicidality. It also described major social and psychological theories of suicide and the extent to which these studies support the importance to adolescent suicide. In the literature review theories of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Durkheim’s sociological theory of suicide, Freud’s psychological perspective and Baumeister’s Escape Theory were discussed. A qualitative research design will be used by using visual participatory methodology techniques namely photo voice and reflective writing. A sample of 12 grade 11 learners, male and female, was purposely selected to participate in the research study. The focus of the study is to investigate the risk factors underlying adolescent suicidal behaviour in schools in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth, as well as to explore the stressors experienced by adolescents that could contribute to them having a higher suicide risk. Another focus point will be to look at prevention strategies as an antipode for suicidal behaviour. The main findings that emerged from the data analysis include contributing factors namely: socio-economic factors, personal factors, psychological factors and educational and school-related factors. The main prevention strategy themes emerged from findings derived from the data and include: parental involvement, religion, professional help and support groups and confiding in someone that you trust.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are a problem among young adults. Problem solving deficits have been implicated in suicide outcomes and may be especially relevant to young adults given the developmental demands and increased risk for STBs during this life stage. Emerging research suggests that problem solving and related cognitive processes (e.g., episodic memory) can be modified through a brief cognitive training session, hereafter referred to as the specificity induction. However, it is unknown whether benefits of this specificity induction extend to suicidal populations. The present study tested a web-based version of the specificity induction intended to improve problem solving skills, episodic memory and divergent thinking among suicidal young adults. We recruited and consented a sample of 105 young adults with past year STBs and randomly assigned them to receive either the specificity induction or a control condition (i.e., general impressions induction). Regarding feasibility of conducting an online study with this population 81.90% (n=86) of those who provided informed consent completed the study protocol. Regarding clinical acceptability of the web-based specificity induction, the majority of participants which received this cognitive training rated that they would be unlikely to “use again”, while endorsing that it was “easy to use” across several items of a user experience self-report questionnaire. Contrary to hypotheses,young adults assigned to complete the specificity induction did not show improvement in their performance on measures of problem solving and related cognitive processes compared to those assigned to the control condition. Through post-hoc analyses we investigated candidate sources of systematic variability in task performance (e.g., attention, mood, task order effects), but none were found to account for participants’ demonstrated problem solving performance. In sum, we conclude that testing this brief cognitive training through an online experimental study was feasible, the cognitive training was modestly acceptable in its online format, and it does not immediately improve suicidal young adults’ problem solving or related cognitive processes. By demonstrating what does not necessarily work with suicidal young adults, there remains room for future research to pursue alternative design or modes of single session interventions.

The purpose of this research is to discover the extent to which there is a typology of students’ health risk behaviors and to what extent are those typologies associated with academic achievement using the 2019 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) dataset. This is a secondary data analysis study using a national representative sample (n=11,410) of high school students, grades 9 to 12, in the United States. YRBS is a national school-based, paper-based 99-item survey used to assess 121 health-related behaviors among all high school students in the United States and is biennially conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020). While research efforts on health and academic achievement is vastly growing, there is a limited number of studies that are analyzing multiple health-risk behaviors concurrently as well as exploring their potential impacts on educational outcomes. Furthermore, previous studies have utilized cluster and/ or factor analyses. However, this statistical approach will show how students are clustered into groups and does not provide information such as the probability that a given student is bullied or suicidal. A 3-step Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify and understand the various profiles of students who experienced and/ or were exposed to certain health-risk behaviors. The health-risk behaviors of interest, the latent variables, were school-related violence, physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Using LCA, results show that there are four significantly different typologies, or profiles, of student health-risk behaviors: Level 1 The Most Support Needed (TMSN), Level 2 Suicide Prevention Needed (SPN), Level 3 Coping Mechanism for Bullying Needed (CMBN), Level 4 Least Support Needed (LSN). In tandem, contextual factors such as age, sex, grade level, race and ethnicity were significantly associated with the odds of belonging to some of the groups. This study is connected to longer-term work. Implications of these groupings on school policies, student health outcomes, and building a school-based coordinated health system will be discussed.