Prospective impact of individual, family and community youth assets on adolescent suicide ideation

Abstract

BackgroundStudies have found that youth assets have a protective influence on many risk behaviours. However, the relationship between youth assets and adolescent suicide ideation is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if youth assets were prospectively associated with suicide ideation.MethodsFour waves of data were collected from 1111 youth and their parents living in randomly sampled census tracts that were stratified by income and race/ethnicity using census data. Computer-assisted, in-person data collection methods were used to measure assets at the individual (6 assets), family (4 assets) and community (6 assets) levels. Generalised linear mixed models were used to prospectively assess the relationship between the number of individual-level, family-level and community-level assets and suicide ideation, while controlling for known confounders.ResultsAbout half of the sample was female (53%). Participants were racially/ethnically diverse (white (41%), Hispanic (29%) and black (24%)). Eleven of the 16 assets were associated with reduced odds of suicide ideation. In addition, there was a graded relationship between the number of assets at each level (individual, family and community) and the odds of suicide ideation. For example, compared with youth with 0–2 family assets, those with 3 (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.90) or 4 (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.51) family assets had lower odds of suicide ideation.ConclusionsThis prospective analysis showed a protective relationship between youth assets and suicide ideation, with the greatest protection among youth with the most assets. Interventions designed to build youth assets may be a useful strategy for reducing adolescent suicide ideation.

What are the risk factors and protective factors of suicidal behavior in adolescents? A systematic review

“…In this systematic review, in addition to identifying new internal and external risk factors, this article also identifies protective factors for adolescent suicide behavior. Reframing meaningful life, adequate nutrition (higher fruit intake and higher vegetable intake), and parent–child interactions (family communication, mother/child relationship, and parental monitoring) are potential factors to prevent suicidal behavior in adolescents (Arat, 2017; Lensch, Clements‐Nolle, Oman, Lu, & Dominguez, 2018; Lew et al, 2019). Also, positive diversion activities such as the use of smartphones for noble purposes, reading books, and watching movies are protective factors of suicide behavior.…”

“…The relationship between children and people is a protective factor as well as a factor that moderates between maternal severe chronic depression with suicidal ideation in adolescents aged 16 years (Hammerton et al, 2016). Interaction between parents and family is a protective factor of suicide behavior, but family (parents) can also be a risk factor for suicide behavior in adolescents (Cerel, Frey, Maple, & Kinner, 2016; Lensch et al, 2018). Although peers relate to suicidal behavior, the effect of peer support is less influential compared with parent support (MacKin et al, 2017).…”

The Importance of Developmental Assets to Mental Health in Norwegian Youth

“…Considering the possibility of the discrete role of assets, in a study of 1,111 ethnically diverse U.S. youth aged 12–17 years old, Lensch et al ( 2018 ) assessed the prospective associations between sixteen youth assets and suicide ideation, as well as the cumulative effects of the assets at the individual–, family– and community–levels on suicide ideation using data collected from four waves of the Youth Asset Study. Assessing the individual effects of the assets, Lensch et al ( 2018 ) found prospective and protective associations between several individual–level assets (e.g., responsible choices, general self–confidence and good health practices), family–level assets (e.g., family communication, parental monitoring and relationship with mother) and community–level assets (e.g., use of time for groups and sports, school connectedness and community involvement) and suicidal ideation. Moreover, in their assessment of the cumulative effects of the assets, the authors observed a graded protective association within each asset domain, where an increase in the number of assets reported was associated with a decrease in the odds of suicidal ideation.…”

Association of Bedtime with both Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Planning among Korean Adolescents

“…In particular, sleep has long been identified as a factor that contributes to mental disorders [13], with several studies reporting that sleep disturbances such as insomnia, hypersomnia, and nightmares are risk factors for suicidal ideation and behaviors [10,13,14]. Insufficient sleep is associated with increased suicidal ideation and suicide attempts [13], and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are also predictors of future suicidal behaviors [15]. Typically, suicide ideation is one of the first suicidal behaviors to manifest, which means intervening before the onset of suicide ideation is important [15].…”

“…Insufficient sleep is associated with increased suicidal ideation and suicide attempts [13], and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are also predictors of future suicidal behaviors [15]. Typically, suicide ideation is one of the first suicidal behaviors to manifest, which means intervening before the onset of suicide ideation is important [15]. Suicide planning is also associated with a high risk of suicide attempts [16]; one study reported that 60% of the transitions from suicidal ideation to suicide planning and suicide attempts occur within the first year of the onset of ideation [17].…”