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Social support buffers the effect of interpersonal life stress on suicidal ideation and self-injury during adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2016

D. M. Mackin ,
G. Perlman ,
J. Davila ,
R. Kotov  and
D. N. Klein
D. M. Mackin*
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
G. Perlman
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
J. Davila
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
R. Kotov
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
D. N. Klein
Affiliation:
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: D. M. Mackin, M.A., Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Putnam Hall-South Campus, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The effect of life stress on suicidal symptoms during adolescence is well documented. Stressful life events can trigger suicidality, but most adolescents are resilient and it is unclear which factors protect against the deleterious impact of stress. Social support is thought to be one such factor. Therefore, we investigated the buffering effect of specific sources of social support (parental and peer) on life stress (interpersonal and non-interpersonal) in predicting suicidal symptoms during adolescence. In order to test the specificity of this stress buffering, we also examined it with regard to dysphoric mood.

Method

Data come from the Adolescent Development of Emotions and Personality Traits (ADEPT) Project, a cohort of 550 adolescent females aged 13.5–15.5 recruited from Long Island. Self-reported social support, suicidality, and dysphoria were assessed at baseline and suicidality and dysphoria were assessed again at 9-month follow-up. Life stress was assessed by interview at the follow-up.

Results

High levels of parental support protected adolescent girls from developing suicidal symptoms following a stressor. This effect was less pronounced for peer support. Also, social support did not buffer the pathogenic effects of non-interpersonal stress. Finally, social support did not buffer the effect of life stress on dysphoric symptoms.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results highlight a distinct developmental pathway for the development of suicidal symptoms involving parental support that differs from the development of dysphoria, and signifies the importance and specificity of social support in protecting against suicidality in adolescent girls.

Keywords

Adolescencelife stressself-injurysocial supportsuicidal ideation
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 47 , Issue 6 , April 2017 , pp. 1149 - 1161
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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