ERIC Number: EJ955579
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-3244
EISSN: N/A
Suicide Ideation and Psychosocial Distress in Sub-Saharan African Youth
Page, Randy M.; West, Joshua H.
American Journal of Health Behavior, v35 n2 p129-141 Mar 2011
Objectives: To determine if there is an association between psychosocial distress, health-risk behaviors and 12-month suicidal ideation among sub-Saharan African adolescents. Methods: Subjects included a cross-national sample of adolescents (N25,568) representing 7 African countries who completed the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Results: Students with 3-4 psychosocial distress indicators were 4-5 times more likely to report suicide ideation or having made a suicide plan, and those with 4-5 risky health behaviors were 2.5-3.5 times more likely. Conclusions: Interventions designed to identify African adolescents with cumulative psychosocial distress indicators and risky health behaviors have potential as effective suicide prevention strategies.
Descriptors: Prevention, Health Behavior, Suicide, Adolescents, Foreign Countries, Psychological Patterns, Correlation, Stress Variables, At Risk Persons, Mental Health
PNG Publications. 9728 Evening Bird Lane, Laurel, MD 20723. Tel: 301-725-4644; Fax: 301-725-4644; Web site: http://www.ajhb.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A