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Neighborhood Predictors of Hopelessness among Adolescent Suicide Attempters: Preliminary Investigation
Author(s) -
PerezSmith Alina,
Spirito Anthony,
Boergers Julie
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.32.2.139.24400
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , depression (economics) , context (archaeology) , demographics , psychology , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , suicide attempt , social environment , psychiatry , medicine , demography , medical emergency , environmental health , population , paleontology , sociology , biology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
The role of neighborhood factors in predicting hopelessness among adolescent suicide attempters was examined in this study. Forty‐eight adolescents who attempted suicide were administered measures of hopelessness and depression. Family socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated based on family demographics and characteristics of neighborhood context were examined using a geocoding software package. Adolescents who lived in neighborhoods with weak social networks reported higher levels of hopelessness, even after controlling for SES and depression. These preliminary findings suggest that environmental context may play a role in the emotional status of adolescents who attempt suicide.