Abstract
Background: Rates of adolescent suicide in the United States are highest among Native Americans but little is known about risk factors for suicide attempts in this population. Methods: To identify risk factors for self-reported suicide attempts by Navajo adolescents, we analyzed the 1988 Indian Health Service Adolescent Health Survey that was administered to 7,254 students in grades 6 through 12 on the Navajo reservation. The responses of students reporting a past suicide attempt were compared to others. Results: Nearly 15 percent (N = 971) reported a previous suicide attempt; over half of those admitted to more than one attempt. Controlling for age, a logistic regression model revealed the following associations with suicide attempts: a history of mental health problems (OR = 3.2); alienation from family and community (OR = 3.2); having a friend who attempted suicide (OR = 2.8); weekly consumption of hard liquor (OR = 2.7); a family history of a suicide or attempt (OR = 2.3); poor self-perception of health (OR = 2.2); a history of physical abuse (OR = 1.9); female gender (OR = 1.7); and sexual abuse (OR = 1.5). Conclusions: Efforts to prevent adolescent suicide attempts in this population should target individuals with those risk factors of the highest risk and prevalence of exposure.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 870-874 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| State | Published - 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Risk factors for suicide attempts among Navajo adolescents. / Grossman, D. C.; Milligan, B. C.; Deyo, Richard (Rick).
In: American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 81, No. 7, 1991, p. 870-874.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for suicide attempts among Navajo adolescents
AU - Grossman, D. C.
AU - Milligan, B. C.
AU - Deyo, Richard (Rick)
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - Background: Rates of adolescent suicide in the United States are highest among Native Americans but little is known about risk factors for suicide attempts in this population. Methods: To identify risk factors for self-reported suicide attempts by Navajo adolescents, we analyzed the 1988 Indian Health Service Adolescent Health Survey that was administered to 7,254 students in grades 6 through 12 on the Navajo reservation. The responses of students reporting a past suicide attempt were compared to others. Results: Nearly 15 percent (N = 971) reported a previous suicide attempt; over half of those admitted to more than one attempt. Controlling for age, a logistic regression model revealed the following associations with suicide attempts: a history of mental health problems (OR = 3.2); alienation from family and community (OR = 3.2); having a friend who attempted suicide (OR = 2.8); weekly consumption of hard liquor (OR = 2.7); a family history of a suicide or attempt (OR = 2.3); poor self-perception of health (OR = 2.2); a history of physical abuse (OR = 1.9); female gender (OR = 1.7); and sexual abuse (OR = 1.5). Conclusions: Efforts to prevent adolescent suicide attempts in this population should target individuals with those risk factors of the highest risk and prevalence of exposure.
AB - Background: Rates of adolescent suicide in the United States are highest among Native Americans but little is known about risk factors for suicide attempts in this population. Methods: To identify risk factors for self-reported suicide attempts by Navajo adolescents, we analyzed the 1988 Indian Health Service Adolescent Health Survey that was administered to 7,254 students in grades 6 through 12 on the Navajo reservation. The responses of students reporting a past suicide attempt were compared to others. Results: Nearly 15 percent (N = 971) reported a previous suicide attempt; over half of those admitted to more than one attempt. Controlling for age, a logistic regression model revealed the following associations with suicide attempts: a history of mental health problems (OR = 3.2); alienation from family and community (OR = 3.2); having a friend who attempted suicide (OR = 2.8); weekly consumption of hard liquor (OR = 2.7); a family history of a suicide or attempt (OR = 2.3); poor self-perception of health (OR = 2.2); a history of physical abuse (OR = 1.9); female gender (OR = 1.7); and sexual abuse (OR = 1.5). Conclusions: Efforts to prevent adolescent suicide attempts in this population should target individuals with those risk factors of the highest risk and prevalence of exposure.
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M3 - Article
VL - 81
SP - 870
EP - 874
JO - American Journal of Public Health
JF - American Journal of Public Health
SN - 0090-0036
IS - 7
ER -