Cognitive, behavioral and affective components of suicidal ideation and its relationship with the family dynamics of Mexican adolescents

Abstract

Suicidal ideation is a predictor of suicide in young people. This study aimed to identify the cognitive, behavioral, and affective elements of suicidal ideation and its relation to family dynamics. With a correlational design, 743 students from three high schools in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, participated. The scale used was the Evaluation of Suicide Potential (Valadez-Figueroa & Amezcua), and the cognitive structures of suicide (α = 0.88) and familiar problematic situations (α = 0.71) were measured. Participants also wrote their lived experiences (testimonials), and the content analysis was done. Statistically significant associations were found, and the highest were: My family would be better off if I were dead (OR = 6.11; CI 3.40-11.11) and I plan to end my life (OR = 4.32; CI 2.22-8.50), as well as three out of five familiar dimensions: communication, normative discipline, and conflicts. Some risk and protective factors were found.