Predicting Suicide Ideation in an Adolescent Population: Examining the Role of Social Problem Solving as a Moderator and a Mediator

The present study examined the role of social problem solving as a moderator & mediator of the influence of life stress on suicide ideation in a sample of 306 high school students. Results indicated that life stress & social problem solving added significant incremental validity in predicting suicide ideation above & beyond what was accounted for by prior history of attempted suicide. Some support for the view that social problem solving mediates the influence of life stress on suicide ideation was also found. Implications for intervention are discussed. (33 refs)