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Suicidal Behavior Among Homeless and Runaway Adolescents

NCJ Number
175775
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 6 Dated: December 1998 Pages: 753-771
Author(s)
K A Yoder; D R Hoyt; L B Whitbeck
Date Published
1998
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Data from 297 homeless and runaway adolescents from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska were used to study risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and the likelihood of a suicide attempt among these youths.
Abstract
The research tested the hypothesis that sociodemographic characteristics, family factors, suicide exposure, street factors, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior would be related to suicidal ideation and to the likelihood of a suicide attempt. The study also tested the hypothesis that suicidal ideation would mediate the relationship between the other predictor variables and the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Adolescents were interviewed on the streets, in shelters, and in drop-in centers by outreach workers affiliated with agencies that serve homeless and runaway youths. Results revealed that 53.9 percent of the participants entertained some level of suicidal ideation; 26.3 percent attempted suicide in the year prior to the interview. Univariate and multivariate results indicated that sexual abuse by a family member, knowing a friend who attempted suicide, drug abuse, and internalization were highly related to suicidal ideation. In the absence of suicidal ideation, sexual abuse, sexual victimization while on their own, and internalization were highly related to the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Finally, the hypothesized mediation effect existed for both sexual abuse and internalization. Tables, footnotes, and 73 references (Author abstract modified)

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