Parental Representation in Suicidal Adolescents: A Controlled Study

Abstract

One hundred and eighty-seven adolescents referred to outpatient and residential services in three Canadian cities were assessed for lifetime suicidal ideation and attempt, and administered the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Suicidal adolescents of both genders reported lower care and higher over-protection in relation to their mothers than non-suicidal subjects, and female subjects reported this pattern for their fathers as well. Male subjects did not show clear differentiation between groups on PBI ratings for their fathers. Mean PBI scores for female subjects indicated subjects with no suicidal ideation, those with suicidal ideation only, and those having made suicide attempts to be on a continuum, but findings for males did not. The findings extend previous reports of higher "affectionless control" in suicidal adults, but suggest that this pattern may be stronger in females than males, and that maternal influences may be stronger than paternal influences.

Youth suicidal behavior: Assessment and intervention

“…Adolescent studies using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI; Parker, Tupling, & Brown, 1979), a measure of perceived parenting style, show that subjects who perceive their parents as uncaring and/or overprotective are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behavior (Adam, Keller, West, Larose, Goszer, 1994;Martin & Waite, 1994). These studies demonstrate the utility of the PBI and the FAD in distinguishing suicidal adolescents in both clinical and nonclinical samples.…”

Perceived Parental Child Rearing and Suicidal Ideation in Chinese Adolescents

“…Kandel, Raveis, and Davies (1991) noted that suicidal ideators were less close to their parents. Adam, Keller, West, Larose, and Gozner (1994) reported that in adolescent girls, suicidal ideation was related to low care and high overprotection by both parents, whereas in boys ideation was associated with low care and high overprotection by their mothers only. De Man and Leduc (1994) noted greater suicidal ideation among adolescents coming from controlling family backgrounds.…”

Childhood Adversities, Interpersonal Difficulties, and Risk for Suicide Attempts During Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood

“…Certain combinations of maladaptive parental behaviors, such as affectionless and overprotective parenting, have been reported to be associated with risk for suicide. [19][20][21] Research has indicated that suicidal behavior tends to be ORIGINAL ARTICLE multidetermined 2 and that individuals who are exposed to a series of adversities during childhood and adolescence are at a particularly elevated risk for suicide. 19,22 Developmental theorists have hypothesized that negative life events and interpersonal difficulties may play an important role in determining whether childhood…”