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Family Factors in Youth Suicidal Behaviors

Mary Alice C. Silverman, ,

Catherine E. Martin, ,

Catholic University of America

Research is reviewed on family risk factors for youth suicidal behaviors. Both fatal and nonfatal suicidal behaviors have been linked consistently to negative parent-child relationships (e.g., high conflict, low closeness), child maltreatment, residing with less than two biological parents, and family history of affective and antisocial disorders. Parental separation/divorces and family history of suicidal behavior and alcohol/substance abuse are more strongly associated with completed suicide than with other suicidal symptoms, but family systems problems (such as low cohesion and adaptability) and insecure parent-child attachments are more consistently associated with nonfatal suicidal symptoms than completed suicide. Future research will benefit from attending to the temporal sequencing of putative risk factors and suicidal symptoms and from greater use of observational methods and parental reports.

Key Words: suicidal behavior • children • adolescents • risk factors • family relationships

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