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. 2015 Sep 28:9:33.
doi: 10.1186/s13034-015-0068-1. eCollection 2015.

Suicidality among adolescents engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and firesetting: the role of psychosocial characteristics and reasons for living

Alicia K Tanner  1 , Penelope Hasking  2 , Graham Martin  3
Affiliations

Suicidality among adolescents engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and firesetting: the role of psychosocial characteristics and reasons for living

Alicia K Tanner et al. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. .

Abstract

Background: Co-occurrence of problem behaviors, particularly across internalizing and externalizing spectra, increases the risk of suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and attempt) among youth.

Methods: We examined differences in psychosocial risk factors across levels of suicidality in a sample of 77 school-based adolescents engaging in both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and repeated firesetting. Participants completed questionnaires assessing engagement in problem behaviors, mental health difficulties, negative life events, poor coping, impulsivity, and suicidality.

Results: Adolescents endorsing suicidal ideation reported greater psychological distress, physical and sexual abuse, and less problem solving/goal pursuit than those with no history of suicidality; adolescents who had attempted suicide reported more severe NSSI, higher rates of victimization and exposure to suicide, relative to those with suicidal ideation but no history of attempt. Additional analyses suggested the importance of coping beliefs in protecting against suicidality.

Conclusions: Clinical implications and suggestions for future research relating to suicide prevention are discussed.

Keywords: Adolescence; Firesetting; NSSI; Suicidal ideation; Suicide.

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