AN EXPANDED ETIOLOGIC MODEL FOR SUICIDE BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENTS - EVIDENCE FOR ITS SPECIFICITY RELATIVE TO DEPRESSION

This study tests both the stress/social support and the stress/problem -solving etiological models for suicidality while controlling for depr ession. To this end, a depressed, high-suicide-ideating sample (N = 68 ) was compared to a depressed, low-suicide-ideating sample (N = 64). H ierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the unique contributions of stress, problem-solving orientation problem-solving s kills. and perceived level of social support in predicting level of su icidality. Hierarchical regression analyses were also used to test the interactive contributions of problem-solving x stress and social supp ort x stress in predicting level of suicidality. Regression models wer e generated separately for men, women, and the entire sample using all factors. The results clearly support the importance of social support as an independent predictor of suicidality for men, women, and the en tire sample. Ability to generate alternatives to identified problems p redicted suicidality, but only for women and the entire sample. Proble m-solving orientation was not uniquely predictive of suicidality and m ay affect suicidal behavior via its relationship to depression.