Attempted Suicide in Youth: Its Relationship to School Achievement, Educational Goals, and Socioeconomic Status

26 attempters, 9-18 yrs, were compared with 725 nonattempters on measures of school achievement, educational goals, socioeconomic status (SES) & depression. Attempters’ significantly lower school achievement is seemingly explained by the effects of depression. Lower SES youth were more likely to attempt suicide. SES had little effect on the relationship btwn attempted suicide & school achievement. Children of mothers with low educational goals for them seem to be at greater risk for attempts.