Abstract
Purpose
Few studies of adolescent suicidality have examined its associations with social capital. We explored associations of measures
of individual level social capital with self-reported suicide ideation and suicide attempt in adolescents in Cape Breton,
Nova Scotia, Canada, controlling for other factors known to be associated with adolescent suicidality.
of individual level social capital with self-reported suicide ideation and suicide attempt in adolescents in Cape Breton,
Nova Scotia, Canada, controlling for other factors known to be associated with adolescent suicidality.
Methods
We surveyed 1,597 grade 10–12 students at three high schools in 2006 using self-completion questionnaires. Both sexes were
combined for analysis. Outcome measures were suicidal ideation and attempt in the previous year. Measures of social capital
included perceptions of trustworthiness and helpfulness of others at school, frequency of religious attendance and participation
in extracurricular activities. Logistic regressions were carried out to determine associations of social capital with suicidality
while controlling for other factors.
combined for analysis. Outcome measures were suicidal ideation and attempt in the previous year. Measures of social capital
included perceptions of trustworthiness and helpfulness of others at school, frequency of religious attendance and participation
in extracurricular activities. Logistic regressions were carried out to determine associations of social capital with suicidality
while controlling for other factors.
Results
Perceived trustworthiness and helpfulness were protective for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in the previous year.
In adjusted analyses, there were interactions of gender and social capital—females reporting more social capital were more
protected from suicide attempt relative to males with similar levels of social capital.
In adjusted analyses, there were interactions of gender and social capital—females reporting more social capital were more
protected from suicide attempt relative to males with similar levels of social capital.
Conclusions
This study provides initial evidence of protective associations of individual level social capital with adolescent suicidality.
Our findings suggest that among adolescents low social capital as measured by perceptions of trust and helpfulness of others
at school may be a warning sign for suicidality, particularly for females. It may be helpful to inquire of young people how
they perceive the trustworthiness and helpfulness of their school environment as a measure of how supportive that environment
might be to them when they are facing challenges to their mental health.
Our findings suggest that among adolescents low social capital as measured by perceptions of trust and helpfulness of others
at school may be a warning sign for suicidality, particularly for females. It may be helpful to inquire of young people how
they perceive the trustworthiness and helpfulness of their school environment as a measure of how supportive that environment
might be to them when they are facing challenges to their mental health.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-011-0461-x
- Authors
- Donald B. Langille, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 3H7, Canada
- Mark Asbridge, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 3H7, Canada
- Steve Kisely, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 3H7, Canada
- Daniel Rasic, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 3H7, Canada
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954