Close friendship strength and broader peer group desirability as differential predictors of adult mental health

Middle adolescents’ close friendship strength and the degree to which their broader peer group expressed a preference to affiliate with them were examined as predictors of relative change in depressive symptoms, self-worth, and social anxiety symptoms from ages 15 to 25 using multimethod, longitudinal data from 169 adolescents. Close friendship strength in midadolescence predicted relative […]

A volunteer-run, face-to-face, early intervention service for reducing suicidality: A service evaluation of The Listening Place

Background: Befriending is one of many strategies with the potential to reduce suicidal ideation and decrease the risk of suicide. Aims: To measure change in suicidal ideation and behavior among visitors (service users) supported at The Listening Place (TLP), a charity which offers volunteer-run, face-to-face befriending to people who are suicidal. Method: This study was peer reviewed and […]

Youth suicide bereavement and the continuum of risk

Background: There is limited research investigating the risks for young friends exposed to the suicide of peers. Aims: This study aimed to better understand the impact of suicide bereavement on rural young people. Method: Participants in this a mixed-method study were 18 young people who had been exposed to a friend’s suicide and who resided in rural Australia. Quantitative data […]

Suicidal ideation, friendships with delinquents, social and parental connectedness, and differential associations by sex: Findings among high-risk pre/early adolescent population

Background: The association between suicidal ideation, friendships with delinquents, and social/parental connectedness among pre/early adolescents who reside in high-risk communities is poorly understood. Aims: This study examined among high-risk youths: (1) the association between suicidal ideation and having delinquent friends, school connectedness, social support, and different parenting styles (i.e., caring only, supervision only, caring with supervision); and, […]

Loving someone with suicidal thoughts: What family, friends, and partners can say and do

If you love someone who has suicidal thoughts, you may struggle with profound fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. You desperately want to help, but you’re unsure of where to start. This book can guide you as you support your loved one—without sacrificing your own needs and well-being. You’ll find the answers to […]

Family and peer relationships in a residential youth sample: Exploring unique, non-linear, and interactive associations with depressive symptoms and suicide risk

Close relationships are consequential for youth depressive symptoms and suicide risk, but nuanced research examining intersecting factors is needed to improve identification and intervention. This study examines a clinical, residential sample of 939 adolescents and young adults ages 10 to 23 years old (M = 15.84, SD = 1.53; 97.7% white, 99.5% non-Hispanic, 55% female). […]

Friendship quality and gender differences in association with cyberbullying involvement and psychological well-being

Current literature has documented the detrimental effects of cyberbullying which include a range of internalizing and externalizing problems for those involved. Although critical, this research can sometimes ignore social-ecological aspects of a child’s life that can potentially ‘buffer’ the negative psychological effects of such involvement. With this in mind, this cross-sectional investigation of 12–16 year […]

Friendship, depression, and suicide attempts in adults: Exploratory analysis of a longitudinal follow-up study

Social support is thought to protect against the risk of suicidal behavior in young people and late life, but less is known about the role of friendship in adults. We explored the effect of friendship on suicide attempt risk during 1-year follow-up of 132 adults presenting with major depressive episode (MDE). Items from the Social […]

Extended family and friendship support and suicidality among African Americans.

The long-lasting impact of adolescents’ deviant friends on suicidality: A 3-year follow-up perspective.

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Friendship factors and suicidality: common and unique patterns in Mexican American and European American youth.

Research suggests a link between friendships and suicidality among U.S. youth, but this link has not been confirmed across ethnicities. The relationship between friendships and suicidality among Mexican American and European American adolescents was examined in this study. Specifically, the role of friendship problems (i.e., social isolation, poor quality friendships) and problematic friends (i.e., friends […]