A Longitudinal Study on the Correlation between School-life Adjustment and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents based on the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between school-life adjustment and suicidal ideation in adolescents by applying the latent growth curve models to the longitudinal data. Methods: This study analyzed three waves of data from the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey (2014~2016). A total of 1,534 students were included in the analysis. In the application of the latent growth curve models to the longitudinal survey data, we analyzed the initial status and growth changes for each wave, identified individual differences in the general characteristics, and examined the direct relationship between the two latent constructs. Results: The analysis revealed that variations in the initial status and rate of school-life adjustment were significant with respect to parents’ education level, household income and academic satisfaction. Variations in the initial status and growth rate of suicidal ideation were significantly associated with household income and family structure. The relationship between school-life adjustment and suicidal ideation showed a negative correlation in which the starting value of the former increased and that of the latter decreased and vice versa. Conclusion: The results confirmed that school-life adjustment and suicidal ideation varied according to students’ general characteristics. In addition, school-life adjustment was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation, thereby highlighting students'' ability to adjust as an important factor influencing their suicidal thinking.