REASONS FOR LIVING IN A CLINICAL-SAMPLE OF ADOLESCENTS

The psychometric properties and validity of the Reasons for Living (RF L) Inventory were examined in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (n=253), aged 13 to 18 years, identified as suicide ideat ors, suicide attempters, and psychiatric controls. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the original RFL factors did not provide a go od fit; exploratory factor analysis identified five factors, of which three were identical with the original RFL factors. Factor scores diff erentiated suicidal from non-suicidal adolescents and attempters from ideators. Correlational analyses indicated that RFL factors were assoc iated with suicidal ideation, depression, and hopelessness, and predic ted unique variance in suicidal ideation over that accounted for by de pression and hopelessness. Our findings provide support for the RFL as a sound measure for clinical and research assessment in adolescents. (C) 1998 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents .