The relationship between insecure attachment and suicidal ideation and attempt in late adolescence

Maia, B. Rodrigues; Soares, M. J.; Moreira, H.; Pereira, A. T.; Macedo, A.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/54184

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Suicide is an emerging public mental health problem, and it is the second cause of death in young people aged 15 to 20 years old. This study aims to explore the relationships between insecure attachment and suicidal ideation and attempt in late adolescence. A sample of 216 Portuguese students, with a mean age of 18.62 years old (SD = 0.49; range: 18-19), completed the Portuguese version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures Questionnaire, and two items assessing suicidal ideation and attempt. The percentage of suicidal ideation was of 22.3% (n = 48) and of suicidal attempt was of 3.2% (n = 7). Anxiety attachment was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation (rs = –.26**, p = <.001), and avoidance attachment was negatively correlated with suicidal attempt (rs = –.22**, p = .002). Non-significant correlations were found between avoidance attachment and suicidal ideation and between anxiety attachment and suicidal attempt. Significant differences were found in the attachment anxiety levels of adolescents with suicidal ideation (Md = 137.27, n = 47) and adolescents who never had suicidal ideation (Md = 99.12, n = 167), U = 2525.500, z = –3.739, p = <.001). Significantly differences were also found in attachment avoidance between suicidal attempters (Md = 173.86, n = 7) and never suicidal attempters (Md = 101.56, n = 200), U = 211.000, z = –3.144, p = .002). Non-significant differences were found in the attachment avoidance and anxiety levels of adolescents with and without suicidal ideation and between attempters and never suicidal attempters, respectively. This study confirms the important role of insecure attachment in suicidal behaviour in late adolesence. Further studies are needed to highlight the nature of this link.