Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan;38(1):48-56.
doi: 10.1002/da.23087. Epub 2020 Aug 12.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in preadolescents: Findings and replication in two population-based samples

Rachel F L Walsh  1 , Ana E Sheehan  2 , Richard T Liu  3   4
Affiliations

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in preadolescents: Findings and replication in two population-based samples

Rachel F L Walsh et al. Depress Anxiety. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Given increasing concern in suicide in preadolescent children, this study aimed to characterize and identify potential indicators of risk for suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs) in this population.

Methods: Data were drawn from two population-based samples of preadolescents: the 2007 and 2010 Minnesota Student Survey and analyses were restricted to 11- and 12-year-olds. Sociodemographic characteristics, childhood maltreatment, parental relations, peer relations, and school climate were examined in relation to past-year SI and SA. To examine correlates of SI, unconfounded by risk for SA, individuals with a history of SA were excluded from SI analyses. Correlates of SA were examined among individuals with past-year SI. Logistic regression analyses were conducted with past-year SI and SA as criterion variables.

Results: Results from the 2007 and 2010 data sets were highly consistent. The prevalence of past-year SI was 9.28% and 9.25% in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Of the total sample, 1.90% and 1.87% reported a past-year SA (17.00% and 16.78% of those with past-year SI). Overall, effect sizes were generally modest to medium. The strongest effects were observed for sexual and physical abuse, parental support, and perceived safety at school (ps < .001). In multivariate analyses of SI and SA, sexual and physical abuse had the largest effect sizes (ORSI = 2.18 [95% CI = 1.90-2.51] to 2.96 [95% CI = 2.69-3.26]; ORSA = 1.55 [95% CI = 1.29-1.86] to 2.26 [95% CI = 1.82-2.80]).

Conclusions: SI and SA occur at a concerning rate among preadolescent children. Screening for childhood sexual and physical abuse may be important for identifying those at risk for these clinical outcomes.

Keywords: early childhood; suicidal ideation; suicide.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Baams L (2018). Disparities for LGBTQ and gender nonconforming adolescents. Pediatrics, 141 10.1542/peds.2017-3004 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barnes AJ, Eisenberg ME, & Resnick MD (2010). Suicide and self-injury among children and youth with chronic health conditions. Pediatrics, 125, 889–895. 10.1542/peds.2009-1814 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Brent DA (1995). Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide and Suicidal Behavior: Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders, Family Environmental Factors, and Life Stress. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 25, 52–63. 10.1111/j.1943-278X.1995.tb00490.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Brent DA, & Mann JJ (2005). Family genetic studies, suicide, and suicidal behavior. American Journal of Medical Genetics - Seminars in Medical Genetics, 133 C, 13–24. 10.1002/ajmg.c.30042 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Brent DA, Perper JA, Moritz G, Liotus L, Schweers J, Balach L, & Roth C (1994). Familial risk factors for adolescent suicide: a case‐control study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 89, 52–58. 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb01485.x - DOI - PubMed

Publication types