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Suicidal ideation in an adolescent clinical sample: Attachment patterns and clinical implications

Resource type
Date created
1988
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
Investigated the relationship between attachment patterns and suicidal ideation in a clinical sample of 116 adolescents (aged 10–17 yrs). Ss were assessed on level of current ideation through self-report questionnaires. Lethality of methods contemplated was also rated on a subset of the sample (16 Ss) who, in addition to endorsing current suicidal ideation, presented a plan on a diagnostic interview. Quality of attachment to caregivers based on a semistructured clinical interview was assessed using K. Bartholomew's (see record 1990-30882-001) 2-dimensional, 4-category model of attachment. Categorical analyses indicated that youth with predominantly fearful or preoccupied attachment were more likely to endorse suicidal ideation than were predominantly secure or dismissing youth. Severity of suicidal ideation was positively correlated with ratings of fearfulness and negatively correlated with ratings on the secure and dismissing patterns. Greater lethality in methods of contemplated suicide was positively correlated with preoccupied tendencies. The importance of attachment theory for understanding the factors underlying suicidal ideation in troubled youth is discussed and implications for therapeutic intervention are presented.
Document
Published as
Lessard, J. C., & Moretti, M. M. (1998). Suicidal ideation in an adolescent clinical sample: Attachment patterns and clinical implications. Journal of Adolescence, 21(4), 383-395. doi:10.1006/jado.1998.0169 NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Adolescence. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in the Journal Of Adolescence, 21(4), 383-395. doi:10.1006/jado.1998.0169 http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-adolescence/
Publication title
Journal of Adolescence
Document title
Suicidal ideation in an adolescent clinical sample: Attachment patterns and clinical implications
Publisher
Elsevier
Date
1998
Volume
21
Issue
4
First page
383
Last page
395
Publisher DOI
10.1006/jado.1998.0169
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Permissions
You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this work under the following conditions: You must give attribution to the work (but not in any way that suggests that the author endorses you or your use of the work); You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
Scholarly level
Peer reviewed?
Yes
Language
English
Member of collection

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