De Relatie tussen Afhankelijke Life Events en Suïciderisico en de Invloed van Coping in de Adolescentie

Abstract

Aim This study focused on the moderating role of an adaptive or maladaptive cognitive copingstyle on the relation of dependent negative life events and suiciderisk amongst adolescents. The results of this study can provide more insight into the major social problem of suicide by adolescents. Method In this cross-sectional study participated 284 adolescents from different high-schools in the Netherlands. Their ages ranged from 11 to 14 years (M = 13.52, SD = .61). The data is retrieved from three different questionnaires. The VOZZ-screen measured suiciderisk among adolescents and the ALEQ-R measured the rate of dependent negative life events that adolescents experienced in the past three months. Cognitive copingstyles were measured with the CERQ. Results Results of the regression analyses showed that the expierence of dependent negative life events was significantly related to a higher rate of suiciderisk. An adaptive cognitive copingstyle did not influence the relationship between dependent negative life events and suiciderisk. However, an maladaptive cognitive copingstyle had an significantly effect on the relationship between dependent negative life events and suiciderisk. Conclusion Dependent negative life events were related to an higher rate of suiciderisk amongst the adolescent. Maintaining of an adaptive cognitive copingstyle in combination with dependent negative life events did not reduce the suiciderisk amongst the adolescents. An maladaptive cognitive copingstyle increased the suicide risk amongst adolescents. Prevention programmes based on changing the cognitive copingstyle alone is not enough to reduce the risk of suicide amongst adolescents. Other unknown factors should be studied to improve the effects of the prevention programmes.