TY - JOUR
T1 - Two Studies of Connectedness to Parents and Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Children and Adolescents
AU - Conner, Kenneth R.
AU - Wyman, Peter
AU - Goldston, David B.
AU - Bossarte, Robert M.
AU - Lu, Naiji
AU - Kaukeinen, Kimberly
AU - Tu, Xin M.
AU - Houston, Rebecca J.
AU - Lamis, Dorian A.
AU - Chan, Grace
AU - Bucholz, Kathleen K.
AU - Hesselbrock, Victor M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors had full access to all of the data in the study and take full responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The research and preparation of this article were supported by CDC Grant R01 CE001882-01 (Conner, PI).
Publisher Copyright:
© Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2016/3/3
Y1 - 2016/3/3
N2 - We tested hypotheses that greater connectedness to parent(s) is associated with lower risk for nonlethal suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB), termed direct protective effects, and that parent connectedness serves to moderate (lower) the risk for STB associated with psychopathology including major depressive episode (MDE), termed moderating protective effects. Independent samples of children and adolescents recruited for a multicenter study of familial alcoholism were studied. Generalized estimating equation models were used that adjusted for age, sex, and youth psychopathology variables. The sample for Study 1 was assessed at baseline and about 2- and 4-year follow-ups, with baseline characteristics of n = 921, M age = 14.3 ± 1.8 years, and 51.8% female. The sample for Study 2 was assessed at baseline and about 5-year follow-up, with baseline characteristics of n = 867, M age = 12.0 ± 3.2 years, and 51.0% female. In both studies, increased perceived connectedness to father but not mother was associated with lower risk for measures of STB, consistent with direct protective effects. In Study 1, measures of parent connectedness were associated with lower risk for STB but only for youth that did not experience MDE (or alcohol use disorder), inconsistent with moderating protective effects. Study 2 showed that connectedness to fathers was associated with lower risk for suicide plans or attempts (severe STB) but not frequent thoughts of death or dying (nonsevere STB). Improved connectedness to fathers may lower risk for STB in children and adolescents, consistent with direct protective effects. Hypotheses about moderating protective effects were not supported.
AB - We tested hypotheses that greater connectedness to parent(s) is associated with lower risk for nonlethal suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB), termed direct protective effects, and that parent connectedness serves to moderate (lower) the risk for STB associated with psychopathology including major depressive episode (MDE), termed moderating protective effects. Independent samples of children and adolescents recruited for a multicenter study of familial alcoholism were studied. Generalized estimating equation models were used that adjusted for age, sex, and youth psychopathology variables. The sample for Study 1 was assessed at baseline and about 2- and 4-year follow-ups, with baseline characteristics of n = 921, M age = 14.3 ± 1.8 years, and 51.8% female. The sample for Study 2 was assessed at baseline and about 5-year follow-up, with baseline characteristics of n = 867, M age = 12.0 ± 3.2 years, and 51.0% female. In both studies, increased perceived connectedness to father but not mother was associated with lower risk for measures of STB, consistent with direct protective effects. In Study 1, measures of parent connectedness were associated with lower risk for STB but only for youth that did not experience MDE (or alcohol use disorder), inconsistent with moderating protective effects. Study 2 showed that connectedness to fathers was associated with lower risk for suicide plans or attempts (severe STB) but not frequent thoughts of death or dying (nonsevere STB). Improved connectedness to fathers may lower risk for STB in children and adolescents, consistent with direct protective effects. Hypotheses about moderating protective effects were not supported.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959866072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15374416.2014.952009
DO - 10.1080/15374416.2014.952009
M3 - Article
C2 - 25310350
AN - SCOPUS:84959866072
VL - 45
SP - 129
EP - 140
JO - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
JF - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
SN - 1537-4416
IS - 2
ER -