Suicidal behavior among homeless and runaway adolescents

The present study considered risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and the likelihood of a suicide attempt in a sample of 297 homeless and ru naway youth from four Midwestern states. It was hypothesized that sociodemo graphic characteristics, family factors, suicide exposure, street factors, externalizing behavior, and internalizing behavior would be related to suic idal ideation and to the likelihood of a suicide attempt. It was also hypot hesized that suicidal ideation would mediate the relationship between the o ther predictor variables and the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Over half the sample (53.9%) endorsed some level of suicidal ideation, and over one quarter (2.6.3%) attempted suicide in the year prior to the interview Univa riate and multivariate results indicated that sexual abuse by a family memb er, knowing a friend who attempted suicide, drug abuse, and internalization were highly related to suicidal ideation. In the absence of suicidal ideat ion, sexual abuse, sexual victimization while on their own, and internaliza tion were highly related to the likelihood of a suicide attempt. Finally, t he hypothesized mediating effect was found for both sexual abuse and intern alization.