Protective Effects of Self-Esteem and Family Support on Suicide Risk Behaviors among At-Risk Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 160 - 168
• Main Authors: Sharaf, Amira Y., Thompson, Elaine A., Walsh, Elaine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.08.2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; Analysis of Variance; Behavior; Children & youth; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dropouts; Family - psychology; family support; Female; High Schools; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mass Screening; Models, Psychological; New Mexico - epidemiology; Northwestern United States - epidemiology; Nursing; Nursing Assessment; Nursing Methodology Research; Parent Participation; Parents & parenting; protective factor; Psychology, Adolescent; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Risk-Taking; Self Concept; self-esteem; Social Support; Studies; Suicide; suicide risk; Suicide, Attempted - prevention & control; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Suicides & suicide attempts; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Northwestern United States; New Mexico
• ISSN: 1073-6077; 1744-6171
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2009.00194.x

PROBLEM:  If and how family support and self‐esteem might interact to protect against adolescent suicide risk is not well understood. METHODS:  Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the moderating effect of family support on the relationship between self‐esteem and suicide risk behaviors among potential high school dropouts (N= 849), using questionnaires and in‐depth assessment interviews. FINDINGS:  Family support moderated the impact of self‐esteem on suicide risk; the ameliorating effect of self‐esteem was stronger among adolescents with low versus high family support. CONCLUSIONS:  Self‐esteem influences adolescent suicide risk behaviors for youth with low as well as high family support. Interventions designed to strengthen both self‐esteem and support resources are appropriate.