Suicidal behavior, mental health, and stressful life events among adolescents

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is an important period for development, when psychological problems may appear, including suicidal behavior. Experiencing Stressful Life Events (SLEs) is associated with increased risk of such problems, although the impact of distinct types of SLEs has seldom been examined. This study aims to analyze associations between different SLEs, psychological problems, subjective well-being, and suicidal behavior in adolescents. A new instrument was developed—the Stressful Life Events Checklist for Adolescents (SLECA)—where SLEs were classified as: minor/major, dependent/independent, interpersonal/non-interpersonal, and chronic/episodic. Method: Two waves of data collection were included. Wave 1 involved 5,610 adolescents whereas wave 2 involved 2,312 adolescents. Results: Major dependent interpersonal episodic SLEs were strongly associated with externalizing problems. Major dependent non-interpersonal episodic SLEs showed the highest association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems. Major independent chronic SLEs were associated with low subjective well-being, and internalizing problems. Peer problems and academic SLEs were associated with psychological problems and low subjective-well-being. Controlling for mental health variables,

suicidal behavior was related to major independent chronic SLEs and to those linked to victimization and sexuality- related problems. Conclusions: The SLECA is a useful instrument for assessing SLEs in adolescents, unravelling the interrelations between SLEs, mental health, and suicidal behavior.

Antecedentes: La adolescencia es un periodo importante del desarrollo en el que pueden aparecer problemas psicológicos, incluyendo conducta suicida. Además, experimentar acontecimientos vitales estresantes (AVEs) puede contribuir a su aparición, aunque el impacto de distintos tipos de AVEs ha sido escasamente examinado. Este estudio pretende analizar asociaciones entre diferentes AVEs, problemas psicológicos, bienestar subjetivo y conducta suicida en adolescentes. Se desarrolló un nuevo instrumento —Stressful Life Events Checklist for Adolescents (SLECA)— donde los AVEs se clasificaron como: leves/graves, dependientes/independientes, interpersonales/no-interpersonales y crónicos/episódicos. Método: Se incluyeron dos oleadas. 5.610 adolescentes participaron en la primera y 2.312 en la segunda. Resultados: Los AVEs

graves-dependientes-interpersonales-episódicos se asociaron fuertemente a problemas exteriorizados; los AVEs graves- dependientes-no-interpersonales-episódicos mostraron la más alta relación con problemas de atención e hiperactividad; y los

AVEs graves-independientes-crónicos se asociaron tanto a bajo bienestar subjetivo como a problemas interiorizados. Los AVEs académicos y relacionados con problemas con los iguales se relacionaron con problemas psicológicos y bajo bienestar subjetivo. Controlando por variables de salud mental, la conducta suicida se asoció a AVEs graves-independientes-crónicos y a los relacionados con victimización y problemas con la sexualidad. Conclusiones: El SLECA es un instrumento útil para evaluar AVEs en adolescentes, desenredando las interrelaciones entre AVEs, salud mental y conducta suicida.