Self-Disclosure, Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

This study examined the personality variable of self-disclosure & its relationship to depression, anxiety, & suicidal behaviour in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Of the 87 adolescents who were assessed, 53 had made a suicide attempt & 34 had never shown any suicial behaviour during their lifetime. There was a significant relationship between suicidality & low levels of self-disclosure, which appears to be mediated by anxiety & depression. This sharing difficulty was most significantly marked between the adolescent & his/her family & seemed to be mediated by feelings of depression & anxiety. (34 refs.)