Suicidal Ideation Risk Among Chilean High School Students: An Analysis of Social, Educational, and Psychological Mediator Factors

Adolescent suicide is a public health concern in Chile as it is the leading cause of death of this age group. Reducing teens’ suicidal ideation (SI) has been shown to decrease suicidal behaviors. Although research has identified multiple risk factors for SI, knowledge about the way in which these factors are associated with each other to exert their effects of SI is limited. This study aims at filling this knowledge gaps by examine the direct and indirect effects of demographic, socio-educational, psychosocial, and clinical risk factors on SI among Chilean adolescents. With cross-sectional data collected from 1376 Chilean high school students (49.2% females, 31.5% reporting SI), we tested a mediation model that accounted for the ways in which relevant risk factors can increase SI. The model explained 61% of variance in SI (r² = 0.61). Being a female and experiencing economic hardship directly increased SI, and indirectly through increased social defeat, use of alcohol and drugs, depression symptoms, psychotic-like experiences, and lower life satisfaction. Findings confirm the complex relationships between individual, psychosocial, and clinical factors that increased SI among Chilean adolescents. Our findings confirm that the role of risk factors vary by gender, and suggest pathways to understand the SI vulnerability of adolescent females. School-based prevention efforts should focus on gender-specific strategies, and increase attention to the well-being of adolescent girls, especially those growing up in poverty.