Indian J Psychol Med. 2013 Jan;35(1):39-46. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.112200.

Psychosocial stressors and patterns of coping in adolescent suicide attempters.

Indian journal of psychological medicine

Anju Mathew, Subha Nanoo

PMID: 23833341 PMCID: PMC3701358 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.112200

Abstract

CONTEXT: Different risk factors associated with adolescent suicide attempts have been identified including those of socio-demographic and clinical variables. Relatively, little research has been done in the area of their stressors and coping patterns.

AIMS: To study the recent psychosocial stressors and patterns of coping associated with adolescent suicide attempts.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tertiary care hospital, case-control study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive cases of adolescent attempted suicide admitted to the hospital and an equal number of controls, matched individually for age and sex, from the relatives and friends of other patients in the ward, were studied. Assessment included details regarding socio-demographic data, psychiatric and physical morbidity, their recent stressors, and patterns of coping. Stressors were assessed using Presumptive Stressful Life Event Scale and coping strategies by Ways of Coping Questionnaire (revised).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: The number of stressful life events and mean stress scores in the preceding 1 month and certain coping strategies such as confronting, distancing, and escape-avoidance were found to be significant risk factors associated with adolescent suicide attempts. Strategies such as self-control, seeking social support, accepting responsibilities, problem solving, and positive appraisal act as protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Recent stressors and strategies such as confronting, distancing, and escape-avoidance are significant risk factors associated with adolescent suicide attempts, whereas certain coping strategies act as protective factors. Teaching adolescents these protective coping patterns may be a promising strategy for prevention of adolescent suicide attempts.

Keywords: Adolescents; coping; psychosocial factors; suicide attempt

References

1. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2003 Fall;33(3):288-301 - PubMed
2. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993 Nov;32(6):1178-83 - PubMed
3. Can J Psychiatry. 1994 Feb;39(1):43-8 - PubMed
4. Dev Psychopathol. 1999 Winter;11(1):143-69 - PubMed
5. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1993 Fall;23(3):179-87 - PubMed
6. Am J Psychother. 1983 Apr;37(2):273-8 - PubMed
7. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010 Jan;52(Suppl 1):S291-6 - PubMed
8. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1989 Apr;17(2):213-21 - PubMed
9. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1994 Jan;89(1):52-8 - PubMed
10. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Jun;160(6):1093-9 - PubMed
11. Indian J Psychiatry. 2007 Apr;49(2):81-4 - PubMed
12. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1995 Summer;25(2):241-52 - PubMed
13. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59 Suppl 20:22-33;quiz 34-57 - PubMed
14. Crisis. 2005;26(3):112-9 - PubMed
15. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Jan;47(1):32-40 - PubMed
16. Indian J Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;42(3):237-42 - PubMed
17. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Apr;42(4):386-405 - PubMed
18. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 May;50(5):992-1003 - PubMed
19. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;52(4):344-9 - PubMed
20. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2005 Feb 15;133C(1):13-24 - PubMed
21. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2006;2:237-66 - PubMed
22. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1975 Mar;32(3):327-33 - PubMed
23. J Health Soc Behav. 1980 Sep;21(3):219-39 - PubMed
24. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010 Jan;52(1):48-56 - PubMed
25. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1985 Jan;48(1):150-70 - PubMed
26. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 Mar-Apr;47(3-4):372-94 - PubMed

Publication Types

• Journal Article