Coping Strategies, Self-Perceptions, Hopelessness, and Perceived Family Environments in Depressed and Suicidal Children

This study evaluated factors associated with depression & suicidal behavior in 8-13-year-old child psychiatric inpatients. Major differences were found in the correlates of depression & suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior was associated with a tendency for children to perceive their families as low in control & cohesiveness & high in conflict. Suicidal children spontaneously generated significantly fewer cognitive mediational strategies for coping with stressful life events than nonsuicidals.