The relationship between profiles and transitions of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and suicidal thoughts in early adolescence

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescence is a high-risk period for the onset of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Identification of preceding patterns of internalizing and externalizing symptoms that are associated with subsequent suicidal thoughts may offer a better understanding of how to prevent adolescent suicide.MethodsData from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a prospective population-based Canadian cohort, contained Child Behavior Checklist items which were used to examine profiles and transitions of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children, aged 6–11 years (n = 8266). The association between these profiles/transitions and suicidal thoughts in adolescents was examined using multivariate logistic regression modeling.ResultsLatent profile analyses identified four measurement invariant profiles of internalizing and externalizing symptoms at ages 6/7 and 10/11: (1) low on all symptoms, (2) moderate on all symptoms, (3) high on all symptoms, and (4) high on hyperactivity/inattention and internalizing. Recurrent (homotypic or heterotypic) and increasing symptoms from 6/7 to 10/11 were associated with suicidal thoughts in adolescence, compared to those with stable low symptoms. Those with decreasing symptoms from 6/7 to 10/11 were not at increased risk of suicidal thought in adolescence.ConclusionsWhile patterns of recurrent symptoms were associated with suicidal thoughts, a similar association was observed between profiles at age 10/11 years and suicidal thoughts. This suggests that the recent assessments of mental health symptoms in children may be as sufficient a predictor of adolescent suicidal thought as transition profiles.

Correlates and predictors of the severity of suicidal ideation in adolescence: an examination of brain connectomics and psychosocial characteristics

“…pessimism) can moderately reduce SI in adolescents (Dickter et al., 2019). Externalizing symptom severity has also been consistently associated with SI in community samples of adolescents (Adrian et al., 2016; Johnson, McLennan, Heron, & Colman, 2020). In our study, ELS was not associated with severity of SI.…”

Application of the RDoC Framework to Predict Alcohol Use and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Early Adolescents in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

“…Profile 3: low PVS and high CS) were assessed using t-tests for PVS, CS, and age (treated as continuous variables), and chi-square tests for categorical variables (sex, parental education, and ethno-racial identity), with adjusted p -values due presented due to Bonferroni corrections from multiple comparisons; Table 1 ). Demographic covariates were included in the longitudinal analyses and included age, sex (biological), ethno-racial identity, and parent education [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ].…”