Adolescent females as a particularly vulnerable group to suicide risk

Abstract

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescents has significantly increased, becoming the leading cause of death in this population. Risk factors include age, gender, and stressful life events (SLE), requiring in-depth study for prevention. This study examines the relationship between victimizing SLEs (e.g., abuse or violence) and adolescent suicide risk, considering gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 adolescents (61.22% male, mean age = 15.34 years, SD = 1.316) attending a Mental Health Outpatient Service in Madrid, Spain, for the first time. Participants and their legal guardians voluntarily provided informed consent. The Stressful Life Events Scale, the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Scale and a semi-structured ad hoc interview were administered. Descriptive, frequency, correlation, and mean difference analyses were performed. Findings: Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between SLE, gender, and suicidal ideation (r = 0.367, p < .001), suicide attempt (r = 0.288, p < .001), and suicide risk (r = 0.385, p < .001). Gender correlated with the perceived impact of traumatic SLEs, including sexual abuse (r = 0.179, p = .030), bullying (r = 0.298, p < .001), and victimization by crime (r = 0.252, p = .002), with females scoring higher. Discussion: Traumatic SLEs increase suicide risk, with females being more vulnerable due to a higher likelihood of experiencing violence and discrimination. Gender-specific factors should be addressed in suicide prevention efforts, particularly the impact of male violence on adolescent girls.