Relationship between parental attachment styles and suicide in adolescents and adults admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital

Abstract

BackgroundSuicide is among one of the leading causes of death in the United States affecting individuals of all ages. MethodsWe examined the relationship between suicide risk and parental attachment among an inpatient psychiatric sample of 690 adolescents and 1000 adults. Participants completed self-report measures of suicide risk and attachment. ResultsWe found that both adolescents and adults with insecure (i.e., preoccupied, dismissive, fearful) maternal and paternal attachment are at a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to those with secure maternal and paternal attachment. Adolescents who endorsed a previous suicide attempt (27.2 %) were less likely to have a secure maternal attachment, while adults who endorsed a previous suicide attempt (28.9 %) were less likely to have secure paternal attachment. LimitationsOur sample had limited racial and ethnic diversity which may limit the generalizability of the results to a broader population. ConclusionsThe present study provides evidence of the importance of parental attachment styles as a predictor of suicide-related behaviors across both adolescents and adults who are admitted inpatient. This suggests the importance of utilizing family-based interventions in order to reduce the risk of suicide.