Comparing Suicide Attempters, Suicide Ideators, and Nonsuicidal Homeless and Runaway Adolescents

This study considers variables that best distinguish among attempters, ideators & nonsuicidal youth in a sample of 527 homeless & runaway youth from 4 midwestern states. Multivariate analyses reveal 5 variables that best distinguish among the 3 groups: self-esteem, depression, physical abuse, sexual abuse, & having a friend who attempted suicide. Further analysis suggests that the accumulation of these risk factors greatly increases the chance that these youth will engage in suicidal behaviours.