Moderating Effects of Adolescent Social Network on the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are shown to increase risk for suicidality. Given the high prevalence of ACEs, identifying contexts contributing to suicidal ideation and attempts can aid in combatting suicide rates. Literature indicates that aspects of youths' social network structures can provide protection against suicidal ideation and behaviors. Thus, we hypothesize that higher social network metrics in youth may moderate the relationship between ACEs and later suicidality.

METHODS

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) data set, we analyzed a sample of adolescents from grades 7 to 12 during the 1994-1995 school year and followed their outcomes until 2008-2009. Multiple regression models examined interactive effects of ACEs and four different social network indices (size, density, in-degree, and out-degree) on suicidal ideation and attempts.

RESULTS

A total of 2,596 individuals were included in our analyses. A significant interaction revealed that at higher levels of network density, each ACE increased the risk of suicidal ideation. No other network indices moderated the relationship between ACEs and suicidal ideation or attempts.

CONCLUSION

This study found that increasing youth network density may confer (or be a marker of) risk of suicidal ideation for individuals with childhood adversity. Our findings have implications for prevention programs, especially those intended toward building strong social networks.