Longitudinal Associations Between Community Violence Exposure and Suicidality

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2008-10, Vol.43 (4), p.380-386
• Main Authors: Lambert, Sharon F., Ph.D, Copeland-Linder, Nikeea, Ph.D., M.P.H, Ialongo, Nicholas S., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; African American; Aggression - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Community violence; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Pediatrics; Poverty - psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Social Environment; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Urban Population; Violence - psychology; Violence - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.02.015

Abstract Purpose To examine longitudinal associations between community violence exposure and suicide ideation and attempt, and whether depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior are intervening variables in this association. Methods Participants were 473 urban and predominantly African American adolescents who completed measures of community violence exposure, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation and attempt in grades 6, 7, and 8; teachers reported about adolescents' aggressive behaviors in grades 6, 7, and 8. Path analysis was used to examine direct and indirect associations between community violence exposure in grade 6 and suicide ideation and attempt in grade 8. Depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior were examined as part of an indirect path from grade 6 community violence exposure to later suicide ideation and attempt. Results Results revealed an indirect association between community violence exposure and later suicide ideation for males and females; community violence exposure in grade 6 was associated with depressive symptoms in grade 7, which in turn, were positively associated with suicide ideation in grade 8. For males, community violence exposure in grade 6 was associated with increases in aggressive behavior in grade 7, which in turn, were associated with suicide attempts in grade 8.