Adolescent suicide-related behaviors: Exploring protection afforded through physical activity, physical education, and healthy diet

Résumé

Each year in the United States, suicide claims the lives of over 4,000 young people. Epidemiology research has identified numerous risk factors that contribute to suicide and suicide-related behaviors. However, less attention has been placed on identifying protective factors that may decrease the likelihood of suicide and suicide-related behaviors. This study examined the associations between fruits and vegetables, physical education, and physical activity and suicide-related behaviors. Additionally, this study examined if the aforementioned variables of interest moderated the relationship between well-established risk factors of suicide (feeling sad/hopeless, alcohol use, and marijuana use) and suicide-related behaviors. A nationally representative sample of 15,425 adolescents in grades 9-12 completed the 2011 National High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Hierarchical logistic regressions were conducted to examine the associations between fruits and vegetables, physical activity, PE, and suicide ideations, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. Furthermore, the PROCESS macro was utilized to examine if interactions were present. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily was positively related to suicide attempts. Feeling sad and hopeless was positively related to all suicide-related behaviors. Several other significant associations were observed; however, the effect sizes were relatively small. The present findings do not support that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, participating in PE, or physical activity can be used as a preventative measure for suicide-related behaviors. However, the findings of the present study support that feeling sad/hopeless can be used as part of a suicide-risk assessment and placement at an indicated level of suicide prevention. ÉTATS-UNIS GENRE HOMME FEMME ADOLESCENT IDÉATION INTENTION TENTATIVE FACTEUR-PROTECTION FACTEUR-RISQUE FACTEUR-SOCIODÉMOGRAPHIQUE ALIMENTATION SPORT PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE ABUS-SUBSTANCE