An Expanded Etiological Model for Suicide Behavior in Adolescents: Evidence for its Specificity Relative to Depression

A depressed, high-suicide-ideating sample of 68 college students was compared to a depressed, low-suicide-ideating sample of 64 students. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the unique contributions of stress, problem-solving orientation, problem-solving skills, & perceived level of social support in predicting level of suicidality. Results clearly supported the importance of social support as an independent predictor of suicidality for men, women, & the entire sample. Ability to generate alternatives to identified problems predicted suicidality, but only for women & the entire sample. Problem-solving orientation was not uniquely predictive of suicidality & may affect suicidal behaviour via its relationship to depression. (28 refs.) JA