Family Risk Factors for Child and Adolescent Suicidal Behavior

In this review, the author evaluates the empirical support for the claims that various aspects of family dysfunction are risk factors for completed suicide or suicidal symptoms in childhood or adolescence. There is consistent evidence that a history of physical or sexual abuse is a risk factor and s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological bulletin 1997-03, Vol.121 (2), p.246-298
Main Author: Wagner, Barry M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
At Risk Populations
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Abuse - psychology
Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology
Child of Impaired Parents - psychology
Children
Dysfunctional families
Family
Family - psychology
Family Relations
Female
Human
Humans
Literature Review
Literature reviews
Male
Medical sciences
Mental health
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Suicidal behaviour
Suicide
Suicide - prevention & control
Suicide - psychology
USA
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Summary:In this review, the author evaluates the empirical support for the claims that various aspects of family dysfunction are risk factors for completed suicide or suicidal symptoms in childhood or adolescence. There is consistent evidence that a history of physical or sexual abuse is a risk factor and some evidence for other risk factors, including poor family or parent-child communication, loss of caregiver to separation or death, and psychopathology in first-degree relatives. However, the researchers of the vast majority of studies did not attend to whether the putative risk factors preceded the development of suicidal symptoms; thus, most of the claims regarding family risk factors are not justified by their research designs and findings.
ISSN:0033-2909
1939-1455
DOI:10.1037/0033-2909.121.2.246