The Characteristics of Chinese Adolescents With Suicidal Ideation: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Abstract

We conducted a mixed-methods study to explore the characteristics of Chinese adolescents with suicidal ideation, using both quantitative and qualitative data and analysis. Participants were N = 244 adolescents, who completed self-report assessments of suicidal ideation, as well as indices of psychological functioning and well-being. A subset of n = 6 high and n = 6 low suicidal ideation adolescents participated in the follow-up interviews. Among the quantitative results, as compared with adolescents with low suicidal ideation, adolescents with high suicidal ideation reported significantly higher scores for stressful life events, coping-avoidant strategies, loneliness, and depression, as well as significantly lower scores for coping-approach strategies. Among the qualitative results, adolescents with high suicidal ideation demonstrated the following characteristics: (a) most troubled by academic pressures and relations, (b) negative self-evaluations, (c) maladaptive understanding of life and death, (d) individual-oriented attributions, and (e) negative coping strategies and self-fulfilling prophesy. These findings

Factores individuales que protegen o favorecen el riesgo de suicidio adolescente: estudio cualitativo con grupos focales

“…En segundo término, la incertidumbre se manifiesta en el posicionamiento ante la vida. El mundo se percibe desde una visión pesimista y sin sentido, lo que puede incrementar la presencia de ideación suicida, tal como se ha reportado en la literatura 6,7,12,31,32,33 . La desesperanza que despierta tal carencia empuja a tratar de dotar de sentido a la vida a través de la inmediatez.…”

“…En este sentido, un adolescente que tiene amor por sí mismo, en consonancia, gozará de la sensación de autocontrol en el nivel afectivo 19,31,32 y generará emociones positivas protectoras 17 . La inteligencia emocional, de manera específica, la capacidad de comprensión de las emociones, la tolerancia al estrés y el control de impulsos actúan como factores protectores contra el suicidio 32 .…”