Suicidal ideation and behaviors within the school context: Perceived teacher, peer and parental support

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 269; pp. 185 - 190
• Main Authors: Madjar, Nir, Walsh, Sophie D., Harel-Fisch, Yossi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hierarchical linear modeling; Humans; Male; Parents; Parents - psychology; Peer climate; Peer Group; Random Allocation; School Teachers - psychology; Schools - trends; Students - psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; Teacher support; Peer climate; Teacher support; Suicide; Hierarchical linear modeling; Parents
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.045

•School-related factors associated with adolescents’ suicidal attitudes were studied.•Classroom level teacher support was associated with students’ suicidal attitudes.•Individual level perceived peer climate was associated with suicidal attitudes•Individual level of parental support was associated with suicidal attitudes.•Multi-level approach is needed when examining school-related factors and well-being. School-related factors have been found to be associated with adolescents’ suicidal ideation and behaviors, including teacher and peer support. Research has tended to ignore the nested nature of school-related data, which may be critical in this context. The current study implemented a multi-level approach on data from the 2013–14 Health Behaviors in School-aged Children (HBSC-WHO) Israeli survey among high school children (N = 4241; 56% female). Participants completed measures of teacher-, peer-, and parental-support (coded reversely from 1 = high to 5 = low), and suicidal ideation and behaviors in the last 12 months. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), controlling for gender and age, revealed that classroom-level teachers’ support was significantly related to students’ suicidal ideation and behaviors (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.20–2.44; OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.04–1.86; respectively), whereas parental (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.40–1.75; OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.30–1.55; respectively) and peer support (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.12–1.31; OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02–1.21; respectively) were significant at the individual-level. The school environment can play a significant role in reducing risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Findings can inform future research and practice in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention programs within schools.