In My Mind I Was Alone: Suicidal Adolescents' Perceptions of Attachment Relationships

Abstract

While interpersonal relationships have been identified as playing a key role in the development of suicidal ideation and behavior, limited research has examined adolescent suicidality within the context of attachment relationships. The intent of the present study was to increase understanding of the role of attachment relationships in adolescents' experiences of becoming suicidal through an examination of the perceptions of those who have experienced the suicidal state. Fifty Canadian adolescents and young adults who were previously suicidal between the ages of 13 and 19 were interviewed, and a qualitative research design used for analysis.Three core categories were identified: parental insecurity, peer insecurity, and perceptions of self. Results are discussed within the context of attachment theory, providing a framework for therapeutic intervention strategies with suicidal adolescents.

Low Emotional Trust in Mothers is Associated with Increased Suicide Attempts in Inpatient Adolescents with Depressive Symptoms

“…However, it should certainly be noted that not all adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms will make a suicide attempt-highlighting the importance of examining moderating, protective factors in this relation. A number of studies (Bostik & Everall, 2006;Bearman & Moody, 2004;Prinstein, Boergers, Spirito, Little, & Grapentine, 2000;Venta, Mellick, Schatte, & Sharp, 2014) and theoretical models (e.g., Joiner, 2005) have pointed to the importance of examining interpersonal variables when considering links between depressive symptoms and suicide attempts. The broad aim of the present study was to add to this literature base by examining the role of trust in mothers as a moderating variable in the relation between depressive symptoms and suicide attempts in a sample of adolescents in an inpatient psychiatric hospital.…”

“…Moreover, adolescents with psychiatric symptoms who perceive their caregivers as unavailable engage in more suicidal behaviors (West, Spreng, Rose, & Adam, 1999). Lack of emotional connectedness to caregivers is also commonly reported among individuals experiencing suicidality in adolescence (Bostik & Everall, 2006 Despite this foundational work, focused research on interpersonal trust, depressive symptoms, and adolescent suicidality remains scarce. To our knowledge, only one direct empirical investigation of this relation exists (Lester & Gatto, 1990 Against this background, the aim of the current study was to examine relations between trust, depression, and suicide attempts in an ethnically diverse sample of psychiatric inpatient adolescents.…”

Perspectives des adolescents et jeunes adultes sur le suicide : une méta-synthèse qualitative

“…Le rejet ressenti par ces adolescents suicidants s'appuie le plus souvent sur des éléments de réalité : brimades à l'école, « bullying » [33,[36][37][38], mais aussi discrimination plus largement inscrite au sein de la société. Certaines études montrent ainsi comment le vécu de discrimination des jeunes gays et lesbiennes s'inscrit dans la constellation psychopathologique de leur tentative de suicide [29,39].…”

“…Les séparations [32,35,38], les dysharmonies et les conflits chroniques [30][31][32][33]35,[37][38][39][41][42][43]55,56], les difficultés relationnelles [36,37], ou le sentiment d'insécurité [56] ou de « déconnexion émotionnelle » [36,56], les pertes [41,42], le souhait de se venger [51] sont autant d'éléments mis en avant par les adolescents pour expliquer la psychopathologie de l'apparition de leurs idéations suicidaires.…”

“…Il peut s'agir d'une tristesse [32,36,37], d'une peine [32], d'une douleur morale [28,32,43,51], d'un désespoir [28,32,51], d'un détachement défensif [36,51]. La confiance en soi est affectée [53].…”