208 Peer Victimization and Perceived Burdens Among Suicidal Adolescents

Abstract

To examine perceived burdens and a lack of social connectivity as potential mediators of the relationship between peer victimization and severity of suicide ideation, in a clinical setting of suicidal adolescents. Forty adolescents (33 girls, 31 Hispanic), ages 12-18, recruited from a pediatric emergency department and outpatient clinics in New York City following either suicide ideation (SI) or a suicide attempt (SA). Data were collected between November of 2018 and March of 2019 as part of an ongoing study. In this study, following questionnaires were administered. 1) Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale, which assessed for physical, social, verbal, and property victimization 2) Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, which measured perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belonging 3) Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire Jr., which assessed severity of suicidal thoughts, 4) Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents, which measured depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed via Pearson correlations. Correlational analyses indicated that verbal victimization - but, not other forms of victimization - was significantly associated with suicide ideation (r = .35, p < .05). Property-related (r = .32, p < .05) and physical victimization (r = .41, p < .01) - but, not verbal and social victimization - were significantly associated with perceived burdens. Peer victimization was not significantly associated with a lack of a feeling of belonging. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with perceived burdens (r = .46, p < .01) and suicide ideation (r = .33, p < .05). Indirect effects were tested using the PROCESS procedure for SPSS. Neither perceived burdens nor a lack of belonging helped to explain the relationship between peer victimization and suicide ideation. This limited set of data suggests a relationship between physical and property-related peer-victimization and perceived burdens, and between verbal victimization and suicidal ideation. Assessments of suicidal adolescents should consider the role of peer victimization - particularly verbal victimization - in conferring a risk of suicidal ideation among youth presenting to clinical care.