Influence of Personal Characteristics, Childhood abuse and Stressful Experience on Suicidal Ideation in Middle School Students

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing suicidal ideation in middle school students. METHODS: Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) results, personal characteristics, child abuse experiences, and stress were obtained from a sample of 657 middle school students from 3 conveniently selected schools in S city. RESULTS: Suicidal ideation of participants was positively correlated with child abuse experience, stress, psychosomatic symptoms, antisocial personality and depressive tendencies, whereas sociability and self-esteem were negatively correlated with suicidal ideation. Significant factors influencing suicidal ideation included an antisocial personality tendency, stress related to the family environment, mental abuse, gender (female), depressive trend, running away from home, sociability, and stress related to academic performance. These factors explained 39.9% of the variance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that earlier screening and intervention programs for depression and stress in middle school students will be helpful in reducing suicidal ideation. Further studies are needed in which other strategies that could prevent suicidal ideation in middle school students are examined.