B2. Oral Session: Leveraging Structural Equation Modeling and Neighborhood Insights to Address Adolescent Depression, Suicidality, and ACEs
B2.01 - Oral: Adolescent Suicidality: Using Structural Equation Modeling to Explore the Effects of Resilience on Adverse Experiences
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM PST
Location: Atlantic I/II, 2nd Floor
Earn 1.0 Entry CECH
Area of Responsibility: Area IV: Evaluation and Research Subcompetencies: Analyze the data to determine the health of the priority population(s) and the factors that influence health.
Identify the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental factors that impact the health and/or learning processes of the priority population(s)., 1.3.3 Identify the social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental factors that impact the health and/or learning processes of the priority p Research or Practice: Research
PhD student in Health Education and Promotion The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
By the end of presentation, 80% audiences will be able to explain the role of resilience in mitigating the impact of adverse family environments and violence victimization on adolescent suicidality.
By the end of presentation, 85% of audiences will be able to articulate 3 specific resilience factors and explain their negative correlations with adolescent suicidality.
By the end of presentation, 85% of audiences will be able to articulate 3 specific adverse family factors and explain their positive correlations with adolescent suicidality.
Brief Abstract Summary: This study addresses adolescent suicide, a major public health concern, by examining the interactions between violence victimization, adverse family environments, and resilience. Using a national sample, we applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess the interrelationships of resilience factors, adverse family environments, violence victimization, and adolescent suicidality. Results showed 20.4% of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation, 16.4% planned, and 9.5% attempted suicide in the past year. SEM revealed positive correlations between suicidality and adverse environments (β=0.27) and victimization (β=0.39), while resilience negatively impacted suicidality (β=-0.17), adverse environments (β=-0.59), and victimization (β=-0.33). Total resilience effect on suicidality was strong (β=-0.56). The study underscores resilience as a critical buffer against suicidality, highlighting its importance in prevention.
Detailed abstract description:
Objectives: Suicide among adolescents is a significant public health concern. Understanding how complex factors interact together to influencing adolescent suicidality is critical for the development of effective prevention strategies. This study aims to assess the interplay among violence victimization, adverse family environments, and resilience in relation to suicidal behaviors among adolescents.
Methods: Utilizing data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey from a nationally representative sample (N=20,103, 48.1 % female), the study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluated the direct and indirect effects of resilience factors (e.g., supportive adults, school connectedness) on adverse family environments (e.g., parental mental illness, parental substance abuse), violence victimization experiences (sexual violence, school bullying), and adolescent suicidality (e.g., suicidal ideation, suicide attempt).
Results: About 20.4 % of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation, 16.4 % made a suicide plan, and 9.5 % attempted suicide in the past year. Based on the SEM, we observed strong and positive correlations between adolescent suicidality and adverse family environments (standardized coefficient (β)= 0.27, p < 0.001), as well as violence victimization experiences (β= 0.39, p < 0.001). However, resilience factors not only showed a significant negative effect on adolescent suicidality (β= -0.17, p < 0.001), but also negatively correlated with adverse family environments (β= -0.59, p < 0.001) and violence victimization (β= -0.33, p < 0.001). Combining both direct effects and indirect pathways, the total effects from resilience to adolescent suicidality was very strong (β= -0.56, p < 0.001). This SEM fit data well (RMSEA=0.015, CFI=0.96, TLI=0.95, SRMR=0.078).
Conclusions: The findings show that resilience factors not only reduce the risk of adolescent suicidality, but also buffer the effects of adverse family environments and violence victimization experiences. Therefore, strengthening relicense for adolescents can play a critical role in suicide prevention efforts.
