Understanding suicidal behavior and gender-specific pathways in an adolescent community sample: A structural model approach.

Abstract

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among adolescents, highlighting the need for more effective risk models to aid in prevention strategies. This study examined motivational and volitional factors contributing to suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents aged 12-16 in a community-based sample., We investigated the roles of emotional abuse, non-suicidal self-injury, impulsivity, and emotional symptoms in predicting suicidal ideation intensity and likelihood of suicide attempt. We also investigated whether these associations differed by sex assigned at birth. Data were collected from 1,526 adolescents (M = 13.8; SD = 1.27) in Madrid, Spain, and analyzed under a Multiple Indicators and Multiple Causes (MIMIC) structural equation model. This Structural Equation Model (SEM) showed good fit (CFI = .96, TLI = .97, RMSEA = .078, SRMR = .061). Emotional symptoms and emotional abuse were significant predictors of ideation, while non-suicidal self-injury and ideation intensity were strongly associated with suicide attempt probability. A multigroup analysis showed that gender assigned at birth did not significantly moderate the relationship between risk factors and suicidal outcomes. However, females were more impacted by emotional abuse and emotional symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of inclusive, comprehensive prevention strategies that address universal and gender-specific risk factors in adolescent suicide prevention. Longitudinal studies are recommended to further explore the temporal dynamics of these associations.