Influence of parental stress, depressed mood, and suicidal ideation on adolescents' suicidal ideation : The 2008-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND

Maternal depression and suicidal ideation (SI) predict adolescent SI. However, the influence of paternal psychopathology is less clear. This study examines how parental psychopathology contributes to adolescent SI.

METHODS

Data from a cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey was used. It assessed 4,073 adolescents (12-18 years) and their parents identified through random sampling of the non-institutionalized population in Korea. Stress, depressed mood, and SI of parents and adolescents were assessed using multivariate logistic regression to determine the association of adolescents' SI with parental stress, depressed mood, and SI.

RESULTS

Adolescents who reported SI were more likely to be girls, have shorter sleep duration, more stress, and a depressed mood than were adolescents without SI. Logistic regression analysis showed estimated odds ratios for SI of 1.444 (p < .05), 1.485 (p < .05) and 1.801 (p < .05) for girls who had mothers with stress, depressed mood, and SI, respectively, and 2.113 (p < .05) and 3.091 (p < .05) for girls who had fathers with depressed mood and SI, respectively. Boys' SI was associated with father's depressed mood (OR: 2.608, p < .05).

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional design and use of self-report measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Girls' SI was related to both parents' stress, depressed mood, and SI except for father's stress, and boys' SI was related to father's depressed mood. Evaluations and therapeutic interventions for adolescents with SI should consider both adolescents and their parents, and family-based interventions could be one method for adolescent suicide prevention.