Abstract
Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are common internalizing problems during adolescence. Numerous studies have explored the role of certain demographic, social, and economic factors in their development in referred or non-referred adolescents, but not simultaneously in both groups. In this study, we examined the association between age, gender, parents’ educational level, and socioeconomic status (SES) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a referred group (n = 211) and a non-referred (n = 1401) group of adolescents. We also examined the moderating role that these factors play in the relationships between both internalizing problems. The results showed: higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in the referred group; an increase in both problems during early-to-middle adolescence in the non-referred group; an association between low SES and suicidal ideation in both groups; an association between low father’s education level and depressive symptoms in the non-referred group; and no gender differences in either of these two internalizing problems. The moderation analyses showed that age, in referred adolescents, and SES, in non-referred adolescents, moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. This study contributes to the identification of groups of vulnerable adolescents that could constitute the target populations of preventive programs.
Highlights
Mental disorders constitute one of the greatest public health problems of our time
Mother’s education level, father’s education level, and socioeconomic status were significantly and positively correlated to each other, and socioeconomic status was negatively corelated to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation
The findings of this study emphasize the importance of examining the role that certain demographic, social, and economic factors play in the development of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation during adolescence
Summary
Mental disorders constitute one of the greatest public health problems of our time. Several studies have shown that one out of four people in the world develop mental health problems at some point in their life [1]. Adolescence is a key period during which the incidence of externalizing and internalizing problems increases significantly [2,3,4]. The internalizing problems that most commonly occur during this developmental stage are depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Research has found a rapid increase in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation from early to late adolescence [5,6], with their being occurrence greater in girls than boys [7,8,9]. To identify the causes of these internalizing problems has become an international priority for suicide prevention among youths
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
