Contagion of crisis: Associations between suicide attempts in the social network and suicidality among late adolescents

Abstract

Background

Adolescence is a critical developmental period for the emergence of suicidality. Exposure to suicidal behaviour within one's social network is a known risk factor, yet evidence linking such exposure to broader adolescent suicidality, including ideation, remains limited.

Aims

This study investigates the relationship between adolescent suicidality and suicide attempts in their social network, additionally focusing on the type of relationship with the individual who attempted suicide and reported deaths by suicide in adolescents' social networks.

Methods

Data were drawn from the iBerry Study, a population-based cohort oversampled for emotional and behavioural problems in the Netherlands. The sample included 769 participants (mean age 18.1 years; 46.4% male). Suicidality and suicide attempts in the social network were assessed via self-report. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic (age, sex, ethnic background, household income) and clinical confounders (IQ, childhood maltreatment, social support, previous suicidality) were applied.

Results

Of the participants, 30.5% reported a suicide attempt in their social network, most often by a friend or romantic partner. Reported attempts were associated with increased odds of adolescent suicidality (adjusted OR= 1.69, 95% CI 1.01–2.51, p= 0.047). However, associations with specific relationships diminished after adjustment. No differences in suicidality were found between reported fatal versus nonfatal suicide attempts.

Conclusion

Adolescents that report suicide attempts within their social network may be at heightened risk for suicidality, emphasizing the need for targeted preventive measures and interventions for vulnerable youth and addressing the broader social and relational contexts of these exposures.